By and large, it is not about amendments, but about approval of the new Constitution, as its text has been rewritten by more than 80%, the changes affect 77 articles of the Basic Document of the country.
“A panoramic look at the political reforms of recent years allows us to make sure that Kazakhstan is finally parting with the super-presidential form of government and moving to a presidential republic with an authoritative, influential parliament… (the adoption of the amendments will give)… a powerful impetus to the development of Kazakhstan and will help realize the potential of every citizen,” the Russian service of BBC News quoted Kasym-Jomart Tokayev as saying.
Hidden agendas
However, this publication’s article suggests that despite these statements, Kazakhstan’s new draft constitution will expand presidential powers, weakening other organs of state power.
Moreover, the amendments may increase control over citizens under the pretext of protecting national interests. In this regard, it is noted that the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights (KIBHR) and the Legal Media Center addressed the Kazakh authorities with suggestions and criticism of the proposed amendments.
“Now, when appointing the Chairman of the Constitutional Court, the consent of the Parliament is needed, and the President only submits candidates. In the draft of the new Constitution for this and a number of other positions there is no need for parliamentary consent, i.e. the appointment is made by the president. And where the consent of parliament is required, for example, for the post of prime minister or judge of the Constitutional Court, if the deputies do not give their consent twice, the president will have the right to dissolve parliament,” Yevhen Zhovtis, chief expert-consultant of the KIBHR, told the BBC.
Key changes
Under the proposed reforms, Kazakhstan’s parliament would lose the right to remove immunity from the prosecutor general, the chairman of the Supreme Court and the human rights ombudsman.
In addition, the new version of the Constitution makes no mention of the fact that MPs approve the republican budget and make amendments and additions to it. Moreover, the amendments reform the structure of the parliament itself – from bicameral to unicameral. At the same time, the powers of deputies are significantly reduced. It is also proposed to change the name of the parliament to Kurultai.
“Frankly speaking, there are a large number of questions to this draft Constitution. In my opinion, it is worse [than the current version]. Through the use of political technologies, they decided to strengthen presidential power….. The draft of the new version of the Constitution is adopted by this power just for this power. Time will pass and the Constitution will be changed again. I have no doubts in this sense,” says the KIBHR expert-consultant.
