ID :
158751
Wed, 02/02/2011 - 15:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/158751
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Kazakh parliament approves early election amendment
ASTANA, February 2 (Itar-Tass) - The Kazakh parliament on Wednesday approved amendment to the Constitution which enables the head of state to announce early elections.
Under the previous version of the Constitution, the prerogative to
announce early election belonged to majlis (the lower chamber of the
parliament).
Deputy head of the presidential administration Talgat Danakov said the "proposed amendment to the Constitution will secure constitutionality of early presidential polls.
Member of the lower house committee on legislation and legal and
judicial reform Irak Elekeyev said the parliament would review the
amendments to and changes of the Constitutional law On Election in the
Republic of Kazakhstan and On the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan" at the Thursday session.
"After the parliament approves the amendments and the president signs it, Nazarbayev will be able to announce the date of the early election," Elekeyev noted.
He also reminded that the country's Constitution does not limit the term of powers for the republic's first President Nazarbayev.
Whereas the Fundamental Law only provides for two successive terms in office for president, the Constitution made an exception for Nazarbayev.
He has the right to run for president as many times as he likes.
Nazarbayev current term in office was 7 years. At his initiative, it has been reduced to 5 years. The initiative will become effective after the next presidential election, scheduled for 2012.
But late last year, a group of citizens proposed to hold a referendum on extending the powers of the incumbent head of state until 2020. More than five million signatures were collected in support of the plebiscite.
The lawmakers amended the Constitution to allow such a referendum, as well as the extension of Nazarbayev's tenure. But the head of state refused to sign the bill and sent it to the Constitutional Council for examining it for compliance with the Fundamental Law. The Constitutional Council said the amendments were unconstitutional.
Nazarbayev refused the referendum and the scheduled election,
proposing early election instead.
The opposition has already stated its readiness to nominate a
consolidated candidate, who will be Nazarbayev's rival at the early
election. Nazarbayev, 70, has been at Kazakhstan's helm for more than two decades.
Under the previous version of the Constitution, the prerogative to
announce early election belonged to majlis (the lower chamber of the
parliament).
Deputy head of the presidential administration Talgat Danakov said the "proposed amendment to the Constitution will secure constitutionality of early presidential polls.
Member of the lower house committee on legislation and legal and
judicial reform Irak Elekeyev said the parliament would review the
amendments to and changes of the Constitutional law On Election in the
Republic of Kazakhstan and On the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan" at the Thursday session.
"After the parliament approves the amendments and the president signs it, Nazarbayev will be able to announce the date of the early election," Elekeyev noted.
He also reminded that the country's Constitution does not limit the term of powers for the republic's first President Nazarbayev.
Whereas the Fundamental Law only provides for two successive terms in office for president, the Constitution made an exception for Nazarbayev.
He has the right to run for president as many times as he likes.
Nazarbayev current term in office was 7 years. At his initiative, it has been reduced to 5 years. The initiative will become effective after the next presidential election, scheduled for 2012.
But late last year, a group of citizens proposed to hold a referendum on extending the powers of the incumbent head of state until 2020. More than five million signatures were collected in support of the plebiscite.
The lawmakers amended the Constitution to allow such a referendum, as well as the extension of Nazarbayev's tenure. But the head of state refused to sign the bill and sent it to the Constitutional Council for examining it for compliance with the Fundamental Law. The Constitutional Council said the amendments were unconstitutional.
Nazarbayev refused the referendum and the scheduled election,
proposing early election instead.
The opposition has already stated its readiness to nominate a
consolidated candidate, who will be Nazarbayev's rival at the early
election. Nazarbayev, 70, has been at Kazakhstan's helm for more than two decades.
