Kazakhstan to Hold Early Presidential Election on November 20

Astana, September 21, 2022 – The early presidential election in Kazakhstan will take place on November 20, 2022. This was stated in today’s Decree, signed by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Noting that this year has become a year of comprehensive transformations and genuine renewal, President Tokayev stated in today’s address to the nation: “In accordance with the previously announced electoral schedule and in accordance with the Constitution of the country, today I signed a Decree calling for the early election of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on November 20, 2022.”

The Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan will be responsible for organising and conducting the early presidential election. According to the Constitution, the head of state is entitled to set the date for an early presidential election that is due to take place within two months of the date of the decree.

He added the election will launch an electoral cycle that will lead to a “radical reset of the entire political system”. The President further noted “this will allow us to continue to focus on solving long-term tasks to ensure sustainable economic growth and improving the welfare and quality of life of citizens.”

Commenting on the conduct of the upcoming election, President Tokayev emphasized: “As the current head of state, I guarantee that the election campaign will be held in strict accordance with the law, it will be held fairly, openly and with the broad participation of domestic and international observers.”

The head of state further informed that he will soon present his election manifesto to the public, which will set out new initiatives aimed at achieving social and economic progress.

President Tokayev first announced his proposal to hold an early presidential election in his state-of-the-nation address on September 1, 2022. He explained that “for the successful implementation of radical and comprehensive reforms aimed at building a Just Kazakhstan, a new mandate of trust of the people is required.”

In the same address, President Tokayev also proposed to limit the presidential term to a single seven-year period without the right to re-election. On 16 September, Kazakhstan’s parliament voted unanimously to support constitutional amendments that would extend the presidential term to seven years but limit it to only one term.

On September 17, President Tokayev signed that constitutional bill into law. This rule will remain unchanged and cannot be revised.

The initiatives to hold early presidential elections and to limit the presidential term to a single seven-year period form part of large-scale reforms that have been implemented in Kazakhstan since the beginning of 2022, including redistribution of several powers from the President to the Parliament, establishment of the Constitutional Court, simplification of registering new political parties, direct election of rural akims (mayors), as well as other political and socio-economic reforms.