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Nationwide discussions start on reforms initiated by President Nazarbayev

26 January 2017 [14:54] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews


By Kamila Aliyeva

Nationwide discussions of possible amendments and additions to the Kazakh Constitution will be held from January 26 to February 26 before the reform is handed to the Parliament.

President Nursultan Nazarbayev undersigned a corresponding decree on January 25.

Nazarbayev, who has led the ex-Soviet nation since 1989, has said he will give more power to the parliament.

During his speech on January 25, he stated the need for redistribution of powers between the president, government and parliament.  The president noted however that Kazakhstan “was, is and will be a state with a presidential form of government.”

The president clarified that about 40 functions could be transferred from president to parliament and government. The president stressed that the reforms will create stability in the country’s political system for many years to come and an efficient mechanism to respond to modern challenges.

Nazarbayev said the parliament would choose the cabinet, currently Nazarbayev's role according to the central Asian nation's current constitution. This would in turn give the cabinet more of an opportunity to manage Kazakhstan's economy.

He said that the president would focus on strategic matters, foreign policy and national security while serving as "supreme arbiter" between the various branches of government.

“The program of reforms is our response to the question: in what direction will Kazakhstan go? The answer is clear and consistent – to democratic development,” he said.

A working group was created in January to develop proposals on the matter.

The current Constitution of Kazakhstan was approved by popular referendum on August 30, 1995. This day is a state holiday — the Day of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Since the adoption the current Constitution was amended three times: in 1998, 2007 and 2011. 

The significant amendments were adopted in 2007. In general, the main ideas can be described as a transition to the proportional representation system, strengthening the status of the Parliament due to introduction of the norm on approval of the nominee for the appointment to the position of the Prime Minister by the parliamentary majority and the procedure of the President’s consultation with party factions before the appointment of the Head of Government.

In February 2011 the Constitution was amended to establish constitutional basis for the announcement and conduction of extraordinary Presidential election.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/regions/158065.html

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