Kazakhstan approves new constitution in landslide referendum vote

2026-03-16 - 21:42

Kazakhstan's electorate has delivered a decisive mandate for constitutional reform, with preliminary official results indicating that more than seven-eighths of voters supported the adoption of a new fundamental law. Central Referendum Commission Chairman Nurlan Abdirov announced Monday that 87.15% of participants backed the proposed amendments during the nationwide poll held on March 15. High turnout recorded in Astana-led vote Addressing journalists in the Kazakh capital, Astana, Abdirov revealed that voter participation reached 73.12%, with over 9.1 million citizens casting ballots from an electorate of approximately 12.48 million. The commission's final tally showed 7,954,667 voters in favor of the constitutional changes, while 898,099 opposed the measure. The referendum represents a significant exercise in civic participation for the Central Asian nation. Key structural changes approved The constitutional amendments, initiated by President Tokayev, fundamentally alter the country's legislative framework. The existing bicameral Parliament will be replaced by a unicameral body designated as the Kurultai, marking a shift in the republic's governance structure. Additionally, the position of vice president, which had been eliminated in 1996, will be restored under the new constitutional order. Tokayev establishes Constitution Day Following the successful referendum, President Tokayev declared March 15 as Constitution Day, characterizing the vote as a "fundamental historical choice" for renewal and modernization. The overwhelming public endorsement signals broad support for the president's vision of political reform and institutional restructuring in Kazakhstan, a key partner of Türkiye in the Turkic world.