A New Constitution Kazakhstan adopted a new Constitution via referendum on March 15.Soon after the polls closed, the Central Elections Commission said that around 73% of eligible voters participated in the vote, marking Kazakhstan’s largest turnout since the 2019 presidential elections.Prior to the results officially being announced, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that March 15 would become a holiday in honor of the new Constitution.The next day, the CEC said that 87% of voters had approved the next text.Ahead of the vote, journalists reported attacks against their social media accounts, while one prominent anti-corruption activist was detained for expressing criticism.Observers and journalists also reported pressure from the authorities and widespread violations during the vote.According to sociologist Serik Beissembayev, the new Constitution will effectively strengthen the powers of the president.Abroad, the vote was deemed “a move away from Western-led liberal economic models” but also an “effort to move beyond a system largely inherited from the Soviet past.” Human rights advocates said the new Constitution “reflects the erosion of human rights standards and rule of law.” Politics On March 15, Tokayev announced that Kazakhstan will hold parliamentary elections over the summer to elect deputies for the Kurultai (the new Parliament) while confirming that the next presidential election is still only scheduled for 2029, when his mandate expires.In accordance with the new Constitution’s approval, Tokayev also said on March 17 that Kazakhstan will need to pass new laws on the president, the People’s Council, as well as the administrative-territorial structure of the country.Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said on March 20 that the government has no plans to lure residents from Middle Eastern countries or establish an “offshore zone” in the city of Alatau.