Kazakhstan’s New Constitution

Kazakhstan, the world’s largest landlocked country, occupies a strategically pivotal position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. The country, which stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to the border of China in the east, and shares long frontiers with Russia to the north, serves as a key bridge between major global powers. Because of its rich natural resources, such as its large stockpile of oil, gas and uranium, Kazakhstan has emerged as an economic force in Central Asia and a security partner to key global players in the region.

The modern state of Kazakhstan traces its independence to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. As the last republics to declare sovereignty, Kazakhstan inherited a complex legacy: a multiethnic population, a Soviet-era political structure, and the world’s fourth-largest nuclear arsenal at the time. Under its first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, the country pursued a carefully balanced foreign policy, maintaining close ties with Russia while expanding relations with the West and neighboring Asian powers. 

Today, Kazakhstan stands at a crucial moment in its Post-Soviet development. Debates over political reform and governance have intensified, culminating in efforts to reshape the country’s constitutional framework. The proposed new constitution reflects not only domestic willingness for change, but also Kazakhstan’s broader ambition to redefine its role on the international stage—balancing stability with modernization in a region, which is often marked by geopolitical tension.

On March 15, 2026 the population of the country voted in the referendum to change the constitution. The support for the constitutional amendments stood at a staggering 87% with the turnout of 73%. In early 2026, the reform was suggested and initiated by the current president of the country: Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. According to the authorities, the changes aim to transfer the political system from a ‘super-presidential’ system into a democratic presidential republic with strong checks and balances.

President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Photo credit: Akorda.kz.

An important factor to mention is that while Kazakhstan’s status of a presidential republic remains unchanged, the political system will still undergo radical systemic changes.

According to the old constitution, Kazakhstan’s parliament is bicameral, which means it is made up of two chambers. With the new reforms, The Senate Chamber will be dissolved, and the parliament will be renamed from the Majlis to the Kurultai (Kazakh word for ‘assembly’), along with its membership expanding from the current 98 to 145 representatives. The shift away from a bicameral legislature is designed to accelerate legislative processes and is also presented in the official narrative as a step towards modernising the political system.

Kazakhstan is a very diverse state in terms of religious and ethnic minorities, and for decades following its independence, it has been a great deal to manage the internal situation with these factors. Perhaps, the creation of an advisory board named “The Kazakhstan Halyk Kenesi” (The People’s Council) will help ease the management of the state as well, since it will be made up of ethnically and religiously diverse groups, be intended to protect citizens’ interests, and be appointed by the president.

One of the most important changes in the new constitution comes to the president’s powers. Before the 2022 reforms, which were initiated by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a citizen of Kazakhstan was eligible to run for the presidency for a term of five years with the maximum of two term limits. According to the later changes, the same president can only hold power for a single term of seven years. Under new law, the president’s power to appoint key state officials will expand. He can already nominate people for the positions of the heads of the National Bank and the Constitutional Court of Kazakhstan along with other officials. From now on, he will be able to appoint the chairs of the Central Election Commission, The Supreme Court, and the Human Rights Commissioner, as well as the members and the judges of the Supreme Court and the Election Committee. 

 Akorda Residence of the President of Kazakhstan, Photo: Akorda.kz

In terms of redefining the presidential powers, perhaps the most important change introduced in the new document is the reinstatement of the office of Vice President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It is notable that the country did have this post from 1991 to 1996, but it was later abolished after the then president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, removed Erik Asanbayev from the office of Vice President. According to the authorities, the reintroduction of this position will “broaden institutional reforms under the new constitutional framework, while also strengthening governance development and ensure regular leadership renewal.”

According to subarticle 2 of Article 46 of the new constitution, with the approval of the majority of members of the newly established Kurultai, the president will have the power to appoint or dismiss the vice president from their office. The main rights and duties of the vice president are to be determined, however it was suggested that the post will hold more of a ceremonial role, with the main focus shifting towards representing the country on the foreign stage.

Beyond the structural and institutional reforms outlined above, the new constitution also introduces several changes aimed at redefining the legal balance between state authority and citizens’ rights. One of the most significant of these is the strengthening of constitutional oversight. The Constitutional Court is suggested to play a more active role in reviewing legislation and ensuring that laws comply with the constitution. Importantly, citizens will have broader access to appeal directly to the court, which could provide a more effective mechanism for protecting individual rights than previously existed.

Text of the new Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Source: qazinform

Another notable aspect of the new constitutional framework concerns language policy in the country. While for now both Kazakh and Russian continue to be officially recognized in public life, there is a clear and growing emphasis on strengthening the status of Kazakh as the primary state language. In recent years, this trend has been observed to accelerate, with Kazakh increasingly prioritized in government administration, education, and public communication. The new constitutional framework reinforces this shift, reflecting a broader effort to consolidate a distinct national identity and reduce historical reliance on Russian. At the same time, Russian language retains an important practical role as a language of interethnic communication, particularly in a diverse society such as Kazakhstan, meaning that the transition is being framed as gradual rather than exclusionary.

In addition, the constitution reaffirms Kazakhstan’s status as a secular state, which clearly separates religion from political authority. This principle ensures that no religion is granted official or dominant status on the governmental level, while guaranteeing freedom of belief and worship for all citizens. Given the country’s religious diversity, which includes Islam, Christianity, and other faiths, this commitment to secularism is presented as a key pillar of social stability and national unity. The state thus positions itself as neutral in religious matters, aiming to balance the protection of individual freedoms with the prevention of religious influence over political institutions.

While introducing groundbreaking changes on the national level, the new constitution also clears the way for reforms on the local level. The new document introduces elements of decentralization by granting regional and municipal authorities expanded responsibilities, particularly in economic management and public services. This shift is aimed at making governance more responsive to local needs and reducing overcentralization in decision-making. However, local administrations will still operate within a system where ultimate authority remains concentrated at the national level.

Whether these reforms will genuinely disperse authority or merely reconfigure it under a different structure remains to be seen, but what is certain is that the country is deliberately transforming into a new and perhaps a decisive era of political development after its independence. All of these new constitutional reforms, revisions and amendments leave both its citizens and the wider world watching closely to see what kind of state Kazakhstan will ultimately emerge.

Bibliography

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