Vice president to govern Kazakhstan in case of early resignation of head of state

The vice president of Kazakhstan will govern the country in the event of the early termination of the president's powers, Kazakh Minister of Justice Yerlan Sarsembayev said at the second meeting of the Constitutional Reform Commission, Report informs referring to Kazakh media.

Within seven days of the president's early termination, parliament shall announce presidential elections, which shall be held within two months of the parliamentary decision.

He proposed enshrining in the new Constitution that the president, with the consent of the Kurultai (unicameral parliament), shall appoint the vice president and prime minister, as well as ten judges of the Constitutional Court, six members of the Central Election Commission, and eight members of the Supreme Audit Chamber. Furthermore, the president will have the right to dissolve the Kurultai if he is repeatedly denied appointments to the aforementioned positions.

"This structure serves a preventative function, encouraging political forces to seek compromise and act responsibly. Overall, the proposed model creates a balance between the president and the Kurultai, combining the head of state's proactive role with the decisive vote of the parliament," Sarsembayev said.

It was earlier noted that the vice president is not entitled to serve as a member of a representative body, hold other paid positions, engage in entrepreneurial activity, or belong to political parties.

The minister of justice noted that the proposed approach stipulates that the head of state can only appoint a person with the consent of the Kurultai. This enhances the effectiveness of the state system, which depends not on personalities but on the quality of public institutions.