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.
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