President of Kazakhstan

President of Kazakhstan
source
Post	President
Body	the Republic of Kazakhstan
Insigniasize	150
Insigniacaption	Presidential Standard
Incumbent	Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
Incumbentsince	20 March 2019
Style	Mr. President, His Excellency
Residence	Akorda Presidential Palace
Seat	Astana
Appointer	Direct election
Termlength	Seven years, non-renewable
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Kazakhstan
Formation	16 December 1991
First	Nursultan Nazarbayev

President of Kazakhstan is the head of state and the highest official within the Republic of Kazakhstan. The office was established upon the nation's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, with Nursultan Nazarbayev becoming the inaugural holder. The president serves as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan and is vested with significant executive authority under the Constitution of Kazakhstan. The current president is Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who assumed office in March 2019.

History and establishment

The presidency emerged directly from the dissolution of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Following the August Coup in Moscow, the Supreme Soviet of Kazakhstan adopted the Constitutional Law on State Independence on 16 December 1991. Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had been the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan and Chairman of the Supreme Soviet, was overwhelmingly confirmed as president by a national election. The early years of the office were defined by nation-building, economic transition via the Kazakhstan 2030 strategy, and navigating post-Soviet relations with powers like Russia, the United States, and the People's Republic of China.

Constitutional role and powers

The president's expansive powers are detailed in the Constitution of Kazakhstan, which has been amended several times, notably after the 1995 Kazakh constitutional referendum and the 2022 Kazakh constitutional referendum. The president appoints the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan with the consent of the Mazhilis, and unilaterally appoints members of the Government of Kazakhstan, regional akims, and the chairman of the National Bank of Kazakhstan. As commander-in-chief, the president leads the Security Council of Kazakhstan and can introduce martial law. The office also guides foreign policy, negotiates international treaties, and addresses the annual joint session of the Parliament of Kazakhstan.

Election and term of office

The president is elected by a national direct election based on universal suffrage. A candidate must be a citizen by birth, at least forty years old, fluent in the Kazakh language, and have resided in Kazakhstan for the preceding fifteen years. Following the 2022 constitutional changes, the term was set at seven years and is strictly non-renewable. Elections are administered by the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan. To win in the first round, a candidate must secure more than fifty percent of the vote; otherwise, a runoff election is held between the two top contenders.

List of presidents

Kazakhstan has had two presidents since independence. Nursultan Nazarbayev served from 1991 until his resignation in 2019, a tenure marked by policies like the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy and hosting events such as EXPO 2017. He was granted the title Elbasy and retained significant influence as Chairman of the Security Council of Kazakhstan until the 2022 Kazakh unrest. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, former Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, succeeded Nazarbayev, winning the 2019 Kazakh presidential election and later the 2022 Kazakh presidential election.

Official residence and symbols

The primary workplace and official residence is the Akorda Presidential Palace located in the capital, Astana. The president utilizes several other state residences, including those in Almaty and Shymkent. Key symbols of the office include the Presidential Standard of Kazakhstan, a flag featuring the National Emblem of Kazakhstan on a blue field, and a distinctive badge worn on formal occasions. The president is also the patron of several state awards, such as the Order of the Golden Eagle and the Order of Otan.

Succession and removal

Presidential succession is clearly outlined in the constitution. In case of vacancy due to resignation, death, or incapacity, the Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan assumes the role of acting president, as occurred when Kassym-Jomart Tokayev succeeded Nursultan Nazarbayev. Should the chairman be unavailable, the Chairman of the Mazhilis takes the position. The president can be removed from office only through a complex process involving a finding of high treason by the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan and subsequent conviction by a joint session of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, a procedure that has never been invoked.