Transit of Power in Kazakhstan: Astana’s New Approaches
https://doi.org/10.28995/2073-6339-2018-1-149-161
Abstract
The article considers the next stage of the constitutional reform in Kazakhstan. In the Constitution adopted in 1995, the changes in the past were already made in 1998 and 2000, mainly with the aim of increasing the scope of the President’s powers, changing the timing of the next presidential elections. In recent years, the trend of careful democratization of the management system has prevailed. The events of 2011 are indicative. The proposal to hold a referendum with the aim of extending the powers of the incumbent President until 2020, proceeding from the initiative group of citizens, was approved by the country’s parliament, but blocked by the President. However, right after that N. Nazarbayev held early presidential elections. The reform of 2017 is formally aimed at redistributing powers in favor of the government and parliament. Nevertheless, the real content of the adopted amendments is not so unambiguous. It is important that the constitutional reform is not limited to these topics only. The amendments are also related to the creation of the International Financial Center “Astana” and its legal status, the introduction of an additional language into the article on the unitarity and the territorial integrity of the state. At the same time, there was no abolition of the ban on the possession of land by foreigners, a very sensitive issue for the Kazakh society.
About the Author
I. A. Baskakova
Russian State University for the Humanities
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Irina A. Baskakova
bld. 6, Miusskaya sq., Moscow, Russia, 235993
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Review
For citations:
Baskakova I.A. Transit of Power in Kazakhstan: Astana’s New Approaches. RSUH/RGGU Bulletin Series "Political Science. History. International Relations". 2018;(1):149-161. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.28995/2073-6339-2018-1-149-161
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