The Constitutional Court of Kazakhstan has clarified the application of new constitutional provisions, according to which individuals who held certain government positions during the 1995 Constitution may be re-elected or appointed to those positions after the new Constitution comes into force, Tengrinews reports.
The decision is politically significant, as it allows current President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to potentially run in future presidential elections. The new Constitution, which entered into force on July 1, 2026, after being approved by nearly 90% of the vote in a referendum, retains the provision for a single seven-year presidential term without the right to re-election. However, the Constitutional Court clarified that previous terms under the 1995 Basic Law will not be counted when applying the new limitation.
"Persons holding the positions specified in these constitutional provisions, in accordance with the 1995 Constitution, may be elected or appointed to the corresponding positions after the entry into force of the 2026 Constitution," the court stated.
The Constitutional Court's decision is one of the most significant consequences of the large-scale political reform in Kazakhstan. It defines the rules for the transition period and creates a legal basis for the further development of the country's political system.
At the same time, the reform calls for a major overhaul of state institutions: a unicameral Kurultai is being created in place of the bicameral parliament, the position of vice president is being restored, and the People's Council is being formed as a new advisory body.
For Kazakhstan, this decision is important not only for future elections but also for ensuring institutional stability. The authorities are striving to update the political system without drastic changes to the governance of the state, maintaining a balance between reforms and political continuity.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
July 7, 2026