Kazakhstan Approves New Constitution in Referendum

Kazakhstan's voters overwhelmingly approved a new constitution in a nationwide referendum on Sunday, with exit polls indicating about 87 percent support for the sweeping changes proposed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The vote, held across the Central Asian nation of roughly 20 million people, marked a significant step in Tokayev's efforts to restructure the country's political framework, as polling stations closed at 8 p.m. local time.

The referendum asked citizens to endorse amendments that would replace Kazakhstan's bicameral parliament with a single-chamber legislature, known as the Kurultai, and reinstate the position of vice president, who would be appointed by the president and succeed in case of an early departure. Additional provisions grant the president authority to appoint key officials, including heads of the central bank, intelligence services, and constitutional court, without parliamentary approval. The changes also establish a new advisory body, the People's Council, with powers to initiate legislation and referendums, its members selected by the president. Constitutional amendments would henceforth require referendums, removing parliament's role in such...