Kassym-Jomart Tokaev is a Seasoned Diplomat, Statesman, Reformer and Intellectual
2019 was a period of a new historical stage for Kazakhstan. For the first time in domestic political practice, a transit of power was carried out – a key and responsible issue on the national agenda. The final moment was the presidential election of June 9, 2019, following which Kassym-Jomart Tokaev won the public trust. The country has entered a new historical stage, full of new hopes and expectations.
On June 12, 2019, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev officially assumed the post of Head of State and, without “swinging,” he determined the main areas of activity and set priorities for the work of the state apparatus.
President of Kazakhstan has maintained the continuity of the political, economic and foreign policy of Kazakhstan. Significant changes have taken place in the country over the year. The Head of State often traveled to Kazakhstan and foreign countries, met with people and international partners. Kazakhstanis have high hopes for him, and international partners trust and accept him.
On his initiative, the Public Council of National Trust was created, which included representatives of youth. The Council significantly reduced bureaucratic procedures for citizens who wish to express their proposals to the country's leadership regarding the socio-political and economic processes in Kazakhstan. Membership in the Council is on a rotational basis.
Three meetings of the Public Council have already passed. As part of the Council, a whole package of political reforms has been adopted. In particular, in May 2020, a package of laws was signed on political parties, on elections and on rallies, which were significantly liberalized and optimized in accordance with international democratic standards. President Tokayev welcomes pluralism of opinions.
At the third meeting of the Council, which took place in late May, the main agenda was the field of education, which is expected to undergo profound changes. In particular, in order to develop competition university leagues will be created, the campuses of leading foreign universities on the basis of Kazakhstan universities will open, scholarships and grants will be significantly increased, and teachers' salaries will be increased.
In general, the reforms facilitate a more active participation of women and youth in the socio-political processes in the country.
At this stage, the concept of the “Hearing State” is being developed, where bureaucracy will be abolished as much as possible and a direct connection between the population and officials based on digitalization will be established. In particular, the President constantly keeps in touch with Kazakhstanis about his trips, meetings and ideas on his Twitter account. Having become the Head of State, Tokaev instructed all officials to establish mandatory feedback with the population through social networks.
Last year brought two major challenges to the President - the explosions of old ammunition during their disposal in a military unit in Arys, Turkestan region and the events in Masanchi in southern Kazakhstan, when a series of provocateurs tried to display domestic disputes between local residents as an ethnic conflict. Both incidents today have been safely exhausted.
With a huge challenge in the form of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 began. For the first time in history, a state of emergency was introduced in Kazakhstan. However, the country's leadership very quickly took measures to prevent the spread of infection and at the moment the situation is under control. On May 11 of this year, the state of emergency was lifted.
Upon taking office, President Tokayev reaffirmed the country's foreign policy. Kazakhstan is a large state on the map of Eurasia, equivalent in territory to five France, and the Eurasian space is of great interest to various major world powers, therefore the fact of the continuity of the foreign policy had a positive impact on the further stable development of this vast region.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, the Head of State met with the leaders of key strategic partners of Kazakhstan - the heads of China, Russia, the EU, the UN, and Central Asian countries. In November 2019, a meeting was held with the President of Switzerland, Ueli Maurer, in Kazakhstan. In addition, the Head of State strengthened the work of the Foreign Ministry. In particular, to deepen and expand relations with Switzerland at the bilateral level, it was decided to distinguish activities of the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan in Switzerland and the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Switzerland.
In general, experts rate the first year of the President quite successful!
Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan
in the Swiss Confederation