Kazakhstan celebrates Constitution Day for the 28th time

The journey of any great nation includes several key milestones which collectively influence its national identity. Beyond establishing independence, the adoption of a constitution forms the most important basis of a country’s political system and processes, as it outlines the very principles responsible for guiding the nation’s future path.

On 30 August, Kazakhstan will celebrate Constitution Day. Underpinned by the unalienable values of freedom granted to each and every citizen, the Constitution has proven central to the accomplishments of our country and provided us with the guide for development and prosperity which we enjoy today.

This year, Constitution Day holds particular importance, as it is celebrated for the first time after the amendments to the constitution, which were approved following a nationwide referendum in June last year, have come into force. These reforms have transformed Kazakhstan and have ushered in new democratic principles in our country. More powers and influence have been granted to parliament and the local government, while presidential powers have been limited, which means the government is now more accountable to the people who elected the parliament. In addition, in line with the updated Constitution, the President of Kazakhstan is now elected for only a single seven-year term, without the right to re-election, which is completely unique for our region.

Kazakhstan has established and further strengthened mechanisms that protect human rights and democracy by enhancing the role and status of the Ombudsperson for Human Rights, the Ombudsperson for children’s rights, and the Ombudsperson for protecting people with disabilities.

We have also reestablished the Constitutional Court, which ensures further protection of human rights and freedoms. Kazakhstan’s citizens, including the Prosecutor General and the Ombudsperson, can now directly apply to the Constitutional Court to declare unlawful norms that, in their view, contradict the principles of the Constitution.

The impact of the constitutional amendments was particularly visible during the parliamentary and local elections that were held in March this year. Simplifying the process for registering political parties resulted in new parties that took part in the elections, including Respublica and Baytaq. These elections are considered by many domestic and international political experts to have been the most competitive in Kazakhstan’s modern history. In line with the constitutional changes, which also include direct election of rural mayors, a proportional-majoritarian model was used in the parliamentary election for the first time since 2004. This enabled numerous self-nominated candidates to participate in single-mandate districts along with party candidates. As a result, opportunities for citizens’ participation in the political life of the country have significantly expanded. Six parties managed to pass the five percent threshold needed to get into parliament, which has created a truly multi-party representative body with different political views.

As Kazakhstan commemorates its Constitution, we must also celebrate the citizens of our country, who have embodied its fundamental values and showed their support through the referendum for the constitutional reform last year, which enabled to further enshrine the ideals of freedom, equality and concord into the fabric of our society. It should be noted that five electoral campaigns have taken place in Kazakhstan in approximately one year, including a referendum, which means Kazakhstan’s citizens have had a direct say on all the changes.

Ultimately, thanks to the constitutional amendments and reforms, a new civic and political culture has taken shape in Kazakhstan’s society. Of course, our path to overhaul the existing system in our country is far from over. Transformations and reforms, including social and economic, are a constant work in progress to ensure that the country keeps up with global changes, trends, and challenges that continuously spring up.

At the time of our Constitution’s initial signing in 1995, we were a young nation facing the many challenges encountered by newly independent countries all over the world. Looking to forge our own national identity, our Constitution codified the values that we hold dear and outlined the principles that laid the foundation for our stability and achievements. Today, following the implementation of the constitutional amendments, which affected a third of the articles of the Constitution, Kazakhstan is essentially a new nation even in comparison to just a few years ago.

In ensuring the freedoms of speech, assembly and religion, as well as political diversity and personal liberty, the Constitution has provided a blueprint for our country’s social, economic and political development. Our tolerant society, where every citizen – regardless of their creed – can feel valued and free, as well as our wider domestic prosperity, is a testament to the forward-thinking nature of our Constitution as a guide to success, unbound by time or historic context.