{"id":179589,"date":"2026-03-16T16:22:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:22:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/179589\/"},"modified":"2026-03-16T16:22:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:22:38","slug":"lukasenka-congratulates-tokayev-on-successful-constitutional-referendum","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/179589\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka congratulates Tokayev on successful constitutional referendum"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

March 16, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka has congratulated Kazakh President Kasym-Zharmat Tokayev on \u201ca successful\u201d constitutional referendum, the Belarusian leader\u2019s press office reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 87 percent of those who voted supported a new constitution with turnout of 73 percent, according to official data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critics say that the new constitution could allow Tokayev to remain in charge beyond his current term limit of 2029.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposal merges parliament\u2019s two chambers into one and restores the \u200bpost of vice-president, abolished in 1996, who would be picked by the president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kazakh presidents would remain limited to a single term of seven years, a change Tokayev himself introduced in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tokayev, 72, has said he will step down in 2029, but \u200bsome observers say a new constitution could reset his term limit, a tactic used by the leaders \u200bof several other ex-Soviet republics, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka said the new constitution \u201cwill serve as a reliable foundation for Kazakhstan\u2019s further prosperity.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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