Kazakhstan's Constitutional Court ruled that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is eligible to seek a new presidential term under the country's newly adopted constitution. It's after a referendum on the constitution in March reset presidential term limits - a move that could extend his time in power.
The ruling, issued on Tuesday (7 July), follows the adoption of the new constitution that took effect last week (1 July) in the Central Asian nation, a major producer of oil, gas and critical minerals.
Tokayev had been limited to a single seven-year presidential term under constitutional changes that were introduced in 2022 - he was elected in November that year. However, the court said terms served under the previous constitution would not count under the new legal framework, meaning he is eligible to run again when his term ends in 2029.
The president had requested the court's opinion on the matter.
Kazakhstan drafted and approved the new constitution within weeks earlier this year, prompting speculation about Tokayev's political future.
It remains unclear whether he would need to seek a fresh mandate through early presidential elections or continue serving until 2029 under arrangements established before the constitutional changes.
The new constitution introduces several institutional reforms, including the creation of a vice-presidency and the restructuring of parliament into a smaller, single-chamber legislature.
Snap parliamentary elections have been scheduled for 23 August as part of the transition to the new political framework.
A former Soviet diplomat and senior United Nations official, Tokayev previously served as Kazakhstan's prime minister and foreign minister before becoming acting president after succeeding the country's founding president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had resigned in 2019.
Initially viewed as Nazarbayev's chosen successor, Tokayev consolidated his own political position following nationwide unrest in January 2022 that left hundreds of people dead.
He subsequently accused loyalists of the former president of attempting a coup and moved to reduce Nazarbayev's influence over the country's political system.
The latest court ruling is likely to intensify debate about Kazakhstan's political trajectory as the country prepares for parliamentary elections and adjusts to its new constitutional framework.
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for nuclear concessions...
Kazakhstan and Germany have agreed to expand cooperation in critical minerals, industry, energy and transport, with Astana seeking a greater German...
Global cholera deaths reached their highest annual level in more than 20 years in 2025, despite a decline in reported cases, according to the World...
A Russian guided aerial bomb has struck an apartment building in Kharkiv, injuring 22 people, including children, according to the city’s mayor. The strike follows a day of near-continuous Russian attacks across Ukraine that killed at least five people.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 28 September 2026. These are the top stories making headlines in technology.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has arrived in Washington for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on bilateral ties and key regional and international developments, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
The European Union's decision to simultaneously advance accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and Albania marks its most ambitious enlargement effort in more than two decades.
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for nuclear concessions.
Kazakhstan and Germany have agreed to expand cooperation in critical minerals, industry, energy and transport, with Astana seeking a greater German role in developing supply chains and higher-value production.
Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom has proposed building a new 1,000-megawatt nuclear power unit in Armenia as Yerevan weighs competing international offers, its head Alexey Likhachev said on Tuesday.
Freight on the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway could soon move faster across borders after Georgia, Azerbaijan and Türkiye signed a new customs protocol aimed at cutting delays and streamlining transit.
Afghanistan and Belarus have agreed to expand health cooperation, with a focus on medicines, medical equipment and training healthcare workers, following talks between the two countries’ health ministers in Minsk on Tuesday (29 September).
Saudi Arabia is facing a widening security challenge from Yemen as Houthi forces consolidate recent territorial gains along the Red Sea coast and step up attacks on the kingdom.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment