Kazakhstan to hold referendum on constitutional reform

At the session of Kazakhstan’s Ethnic Assembly, Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed to hold a national referendum on amendments to the country’s Constitution. “The referendum will let every citizen to directly participate in deciding the country’s fate and will strengthen our course towards comprehensive democratization and building of a new Kazakhstan,” the President said.

According to him, the working group prepared amendments to 33 articles of the Basic Law, which is one third of the entire Constitution. The draft law on amendments was submitted to the Constitutional Council. The Head of State also determined the priority of the Assembly’s work, including strengthening of its role in political reforms and intensifying social capabilities.

Tokayev added that the first meeting of a new dialogue platform ‘Ulttyk Kuryltai’ (National Congress) will take place in a month. It is designed to consolidate society to discuss relevant issues of the country’s development. The congress will include MPs, the Assembly’s members, experts, representatives of non-governmental organizations, public councils and businesses. An ethnomediation training center will be created for civil servants to help find ways of reconciliation.

Translation by Saniya Sakenova

Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova