Voting in Kazakhstan's referendum on a new constitutional draft has concluded, with exit polls indicating overwhelming support for the proposed amendments to the country's fundamental law. According to Deutsche Welle, an exit poll by the Institute of Eurasian Integration shows that 86.7% of voters backed the new version of the constitution. The survey was conducted at 200 polling stations across 17 regions and three major cities, covering approximately 30,000 people.
An exit poll by the private fund "Institute of Complex Social Research – Astana 'Sosis-A'" recorded support for the changes at 87.4%. Meanwhile, data from the Institute of Public Policy of the Amanat party suggests that 88.6% of survey participants favored the amendments. Preliminary information from Kazakhstan's Central Election Commission indicates a voter turnout of 73.24%, with 9,126,850 citizens participating. The commission had earlier stated that the referendum could be considered valid.
The highest turnout was recorded in the Kyzylorda Region at 93.04%, while the lowest was in Almaty at 33.43%. In the capital, Astana, the figure stood at 60.36%. Deutsche Welle notes that the new constitutional draft was developed on the initiative of Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The document, among other provisions, envisages the abolition of the bicameral parliament and the establishment of a unicameral Kurultai (assembly).
Under the proposed changes, the president will also be able to unilaterally appoint the Prosecutor General, the chairpersons of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts, the head of the National Bank, and the chairman of the National Security Committee. Additionally, the introduction of a vice-president position is planned, with the president appointing this official with the consent of the unicameral parliament. The president will also gain the right to dissolve the Kurultai if it twice fails to approve his proposed candidates for key state positions. Official results of the referendum are to be announced by the Central Commission within seven days after the vote.
Source: kun.uz