Kazakhstan President Proposes Reversing Key Democratic Reforms

TDT | Astana

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Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed rolling back major democratic reforms introduced after deadly anti-government protests in 2022.

The protests erupted in January 2022 over rising living costs and turned violent after Tokayev ordered a “shoot-to-kill” policy, which left at least 238 people dead. Following the unrest, Tokayev sidelined his predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbayev, and introduced political reforms aimed at increasing public participation.

On Monday, Tokayev suggested scrapping the electoral system that allowed independent candidates to run for office and abolishing the Senate, replacing it with a single-chamber parliament. He said the proposed changes would undergo a year-long consultation before being put to a nationwide referendum in 2027.

If approved, the new system would allow parliament to be elected solely through party lists, potentially consolidating power for the ruling Amanat party. Under the 2022 reforms, independent candidates could contest nearly a third of lower house seats.

“I have said many times that all issues of vital importance to the state will be decided only with the consent of the people,” Tokayev said, though analysts note his proposals are largely top-down directives.

Tokayev has previously won presidential elections in 2019 and 2022 without meaningful opposition, and the 2023 legislative elections gave a landslide majority to parties supportive of his government.