WHAT'S GOING ON WITH KAZAKHSTAN?
- Paul Hansbury
- 8 hours ago
- 5 min read
A shake-up of the central Asian state's political institutions may be extensive, but some of the changes are only cosmetic. Worse, others tighten the president's control over society.
On 23 August, Kazakhstan elected a new parliament. Its previous bicameral legislature has been replaced by a unicameral body, the Kurultai, in accordance with a constitutional referendum held back in the spring. The new constitution introduced through the March referendum redesigns the political system. The country's president said it heralded a 'New Kazakhstan'.
At first glance, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's (Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev) description of the new constitution as the last step in a 'transformation of the state' has some merit. The changes affect most of the political apparatus, from legislature to courts, from presidency to local government. The authorities claim that the changes move Kazakhstan from a 'super-presidential' republic (i.e. one heavily dominated by the president) to a democratic presidential republic; the latest parliamentary election should, logically, be integral to that ambition of a New Kazakhstan.
So a new constitution, a new parliament, and (to boot!) a new ruling party as a result of the 23 August ballot. If 'New Kazakhstan' sounds too good to be true, be assured (or disappointed) that it is. The similarities with other dictatorships are plain to see. Furthermore, as I will conclude, the latest developments in Kazakhstan matter for those of us in far away democracies.
