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By Kamila Aliyeva

Kazakhstan will make amendments to the Constitution to ensure redistribution of powers between the president, government and parliament.

As much as 35 amendments will be made to 23 Articles of the country’s Constitution, President Nursultan Nazarbayev said at a meeting on March 1, Kazakh media reported.

"The main political model will be saved and Kazakhstan will remain presidential republic, however, the public administration should be flexible in accordance with the requirements of the time," Nazarbayev said.

The Head of State stressed that following the results of reforms the government branches will get their credentials and work independently. In this regard, each branch should feel responsible.

In late January 2017, Nazarbayev, who has led the ex-Soviet nation since 1989, stated the need for redistribution of powers between the president, government and parliament.

Nazarbayev proposed transferring the powers to regulate socioeconomic processes to his cabinet, ministries, and akimats (local government bodies), while he will retain control of foreign policy, national security, and defense, as well as “strategic functions and the role of supreme arbiter in interactions between government branches.” The president also said the parliament would choose the cabinet, currently Nazarbayev's role according to the central Asian nation's current constitution. This would in turn give the cabinet more of an opportunity to manage Kazakhstan's economy.

Nazarbayev further mentioned that in line with the Kazakh legislation, the Constitution could be amended through referendum and by the parliament and the president makes the final decision.

“I have decided to make amendments through the parliament," the head of state said.“We're not going to make major changes in the political system of government, therefore given the urgency and importance of the work done for the country and its people, I have decided to make changes through parliament.”

A working group was created in January to develop proposals on the matter and the nationwide discussions of possible amendments and additions to the Kazakh Constitution were held.

Head of the Working Group Adilbek Dzhaksybekov said that people supported the initiative on transfer of some presidential powers to the government and parliament. He noted that Kazakh citizens have proposed over 6,000 amendments to the constitution within nationwide discussions since late January, which are related to 63 articles of constitution.

It was originally supposed to transfer 40 powers, eventually, the project redistributes 35 powers of the Head of State. In particular, these are separate issues of economic governance, finances, state property, the powers associated with the solution of a number of questions of the administrative-territorial structure.

The president stressed that the reforms will create stability in the country’s political system for many years to come and be an efficient mechanism to respond to modern challenges.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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