President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, when addressing the people, said that the country would hold snap presidential election. Forbs.kz reports.
According to the media outlet, the president will be elected for one seven-year term only.
«I propose to hold snap presidential election this fall. For the successful implementation of fundamental and comprehensive reforms on the way to creating just Kazakhstan, a new trust mandate of the people is needed. For me, the interests of the state are above all. Therefore, I am ready to shorten my term of office and run for snap presidential election. I thought a lot and came to the conclusion that it is necessary to reconsider duration of the presidential term. I recommend limiting the presidential term to one of seven years, but re-election is prohibited,» Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.
Deputies of both Houses of Parliament met this proposal with applause.
According to the Constitution, the President of Kazakhstan is elected on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot for a period of five years. Snap presidential elections are called by the decision of the President of the republic and are held in the manner and terms established by the constitutional law. The same person cannot be elected a President of the republic more than twice in a row.
