Tokayev on future vice president: “It will be a well-known person you all know”
Tengrinews.kz — Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has voted in Kazakhstan’s Kurultai parliamentary election. After casting his ballot, the President held a briefing for media representatives, according to the Akorda press service.
During the briefing, Khabar TV correspondent Sagynysh Abikei asked the President a question.
“You said that the constitutional reform would mark the beginning of historic transformations and that large-scale modernization would continue through the end of this year and even into next year. What changes will take place in the country after the Kurultai and the Kazakhstan People’s Council begin their work, as well as after the post of vice president is established?” she asked.
The Head of State noted that everyone was asking about the vice presidency.
“Indeed, this is a significant change. We deliberately established this new position in the Constitution. I would not be mistaken in saying that it is extremely necessary. In these difficult times, our country especially needs such a position. We will know who will become vice president within the next week or 10 days. It would be premature to name the person now. I think it will be a well-known figure whom you all know very well,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev replied.
The President also stressed that other reforms would be implemented.
“For example, we need to launch the work of a new state body — the Kazakhstan People’s Council. As far as I know, some citizens compare it with the Assembly. I believe the Kazakhstan People’s Council will strengthen and further develop the work previously carried out by the Assembly. It can be described as a new multifunctional political mechanism. I am confident that the work of the Kazakhstan People’s Council will be productive,” he said.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also recalled that he had previously said Kazakhstan should become a major construction site. According to him, large-scale construction projects will be implemented in every regional center, district and city. New clinics, children’s rehabilitation centers and other social facilities will be built.
“Astana will see such important facilities as a new bridge, the Palace of Dombra and a Water Resources Research Center. Cities need to be improved. The Taza Kazakhstan campaign must be continued consistently. We therefore cannot sit idle. All of us, as one people, must get to work together. We have no other homeland but Kazakhstan, and each of us must contribute to its development. Overall, the election campaign went well. New faces entered the social and political arena, and substantive and constructive ideas were put forward. I believe this Kurultai will give new momentum to the development of our country,” Tokayev said.
Election
On Sunday, August 23, Kazakhstan is holding elections to the unicameral Parliament — the Kurultai. These are the country’s tenth parliamentary elections since 1991 and the first since the adoption of the new Constitution, under which the Mazhilis and Senate ceased operating and their deputies were dismissed.
Kazakhstan will now have a new legislative body — the Kurultai — instead of a bicameral parliament. It will consist of 145 deputies elected for five-year terms. After the election, the deputies will elect the chair of the Kurultai and three deputy chairs.
Seven parties are competing for the 145 seats: Adilet, Auyl, Ak Zhol, the Nationwide Social Democratic Party, Baitak, the People’s Party of Kazakhstan and Respublica. The ballot also includes a “None of the Above” option.
Due to time differences, Kazakhstanis abroad were among the first to vote, including those in Japan and South Korea. In Kazakhstan, 107 polling stations opened at 6:00 a.m., while the rest began operating at 7:00 a.m. Voting will continue until 8:00 p.m.
A total of 10,423 polling stations are open, with more than 12.6 million registered voters.