Kazakhstan must switch from a super-presidential republic to a presidential republic with a strong Parliament. The President of the country Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in an address to the people.
«Today everything is focused on the president, and this is wrong. We need to gradually abandon this practice. The long-term interests of the state are more important to me than any additional levers of power and situational influence,» he said.
The super-presidential model of government was reasonable earlier, but the country must be guided by new realities.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
He proposed to legislatively ban the president’s membership in parties before the expiration of his term.
The head of state also added that the closest relatives of the president would be banned from holding senior positions in the quasi-public sector and government agencies. Rejection of excessive presidential powers will be an important factor that will ensure the irreversibility of political modernization in the country. The proposed initiatives will fundamentally change the «rules of the game» and form a solid foundation for the further democratization of the society.
Only the Majilis will have the right to pass laws.
The Senate will only approve or disapprove the laws adopted by the Majilis.
«The lower house of Parliament should reflect the entire electoral landscape of the country without giving anyone artificial preferences. Thus, we will abolish the quota of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan in the Majilis, which, in my opinion, is correct both from a political and legal point of view. This quota is transferred to the Senate and reduced from 9 to 5 deputies. Accordingly, the total number of deputy seats in the Majilis will decrease. Better less but better,» Kassym-Jomart Tokayev suggested.
The Majilis will switch to a mixed system of formation: 70 percent — on a proportional basis of elections, 30 percent — on a majoritarian basis.
A mixed model will also be introduced in the elections of maslikhats of regions and cities of republican significance.
