Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Kazakhstan’s long-time ruler vows to boost parliament’s role

MOSCOW – The president of Kazakhstan, who has led the ex-Soviet Central Asian nation for more than a quarter century, is vowing to strengthen the parliament’s authority.

Nursultan Nazarbayev, 76, said in a televised address Wednesday that the powers of both the parliament and the cabinet will be expanded. He said the presidency will play the role of “supreme arbiter” between various branches of government.

Nazarbayev has led Kazakhstan since 1989 first as its Communist boss and then president, maintaining a firm grip on the resource-rich nation. He won a fifth term in office in 2015 with 98 per cent of the vote.

Kazakhstan’s economy has surged on the back of its mineral riches, but plummeting prices for oil and Kazakhstan’s interdependence with neighbouring Russia has hurt its economy in recent years.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles