Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed a referendum on the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan

At a session of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan on Friday, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, proposed holding a referendum on amendments to the constitution.
“I believe that amending the constitution through a national referendum will be a clear demonstration of the people’s will,” TASS quotes the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan as saying.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reportedly stressed, “The referendum will allow every citizen to directly participate in deciding the fate of the country and will strengthen the course towards comprehensive democratization and building of a new Kazakhstan.”
The President recalled that a referendum is an essential democratic institution, but Kazakhstan has not held a referendum since 1995, when the current Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan was approved.
“I have initiated amendments to the constitution that are fundamental and radically change the country’s political system. We transition to a new state model, a new format of interaction between the state and society. This qualitative transition can be called the second republic,” explained the head of state.
According to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a working group has prepared amendments to 33 articles of the basic law: a third of the Constitution. The draft law on introducing these amendments has been submitted to the Constitutional Council, which will soon issue its verdict.
The amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan reduce the powers of the President, significantly increase the role of parliament and local representative bodies, systematically strengthen human rights and reestablish the Constitutional Court.