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(Bloomberg) — Kazakhstan exit polls showed most voters backed a new constitution in a nationwide referendum, a victory for President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as he reshapes the political system in Central Asia’s largest energy exporter.
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About 86.7% of voters supported the changes on Sunday, according to exit-poll data from the Institute of Eurasian Integration. The survey covered about 30,000 people at 200 polling stations across the country.
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The nation of 20.5 million people was asked to vote on changes that include replacing the current bicameral parliament with a single chamber of lawmakers and creating the post of vice president, who would succeed the head of state in the event of an early departure from office. The polling stations closed at 8 p.m. local time, with turnout estimated at 73.24%, by the Central Election Commission, which is yet to announce official results.
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“Our compatriots voted for the renewal and modernization of the country. This is our shared achievement. I sincerely congratulate all of you on this significant event,” President Tokayev said in remarks after the exit-poll results, published on the presidential website.
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After the amendments are officially approved, Kazakhstan will be on course for new parliamentary elections as the existing legislature will cease operations by July 1. The election commission is set to announce preliminary results on Monday.
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A former head of the Senate, Tokayev, 72, was handed the presidency in 2019 by former longtime ruler Nursultan Nazarbayev, who stepped down before the end of his term. He then called snap elections to confirm his mandate to rule.
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Following deadly riots sparked by rising fuel prices in 2022 — which Tokayev called an attempted coup — the Kazakh leader then called a referendum to limit the presidency to a single seven-year term. He followed that by holding another early election in which he was reelected under the new system, which requires him to step down in 2029.
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The proposed changes will also remove the ability of parliament to amend the constitution, reserving that power solely for a referendum. Tokayev said earlier this would prevent amendments from being introduced “in the interests of certain political groups.”
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The referendum is unlikely to lead to an extension in the presidential term, S&P Global Ratings said last month as it affirmed Kazakhstan’s BBB- rating with a positive outlook. Tokayev earlier denied he would seek reelection.
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