Kazakh presidential line of succession

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The Kazakh presidential line of succession is defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan and supplementary legislation. It establishes the order to be followed in the event that the President of Kazakhstan is unable to discharge the duties of office due to death, resignation, removal, or incapacity.

Contents

According to Article 48 of the Constitution, in such circumstances the powers of the President are transferred to the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament until a new President is elected. If the Chairman of the Senate is unable to assume the office, the powers are passed to the Chairman of the Mäjilis (lower house of Parliament), and, in the final instance, to the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.

Constitutional basis

The legal framework for presidential succession is contained in:

Article 48, Paragraph 1 states: [1]

In case of early termination of the President's powers, his death, resignation, incapacity or removal from office, the powers of the President of the Republic shall be transferred to the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament. In the case of the inability of the Chairman of the Senate to assume these powers, they shall be transferred to the Chairman of the Majilis of the Parliament. In the case of the inability of the latter, the powers shall be transferred to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Current order of succession

No.OfficeIncumbentParty
1 Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan Mäulen Äşimbaev Amanat
2 Chairman of the Mäjilis Erlan Qoşanov Amanat
3 Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Oljas Bektenov Amanat

History

The institution of presidential succession in Kazakhstan has undergone several stages of development since the establishment of the office in April 1990, when the Presidency of the Kazakh SSR was created. At that time, in accordance with the Chapter 12-1, Article 114-8 of the Constitution of the Kazakh SSR, the powers of the head of state in case of vacancy were to be transferred to the Vice President of Kazakhstan, and if that post was absent or unable, then to the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh SSR. [2] This arrangement remained in force during the first period of statehood after independence, with the adoption of the 1993 Constitution of Kazakhstan largely preserving the same procedure, though it additionally required that snap presidential elections be conducted within two months, while the acting head of state temporarily exercised presidential authority. [3]

A more systematic approach appeared with the adoption of the 1995 Constitution of Kazakhstan, approved by national referendum on 30 August 1995 and entering into force on 5 September 1995 under presidential decree No. 2454, which for the first time set out in detail the order of succession. [4] It was defined that in the event of early termination of presidential powers, they would be assumed by the Chairman of the Senate of Parliament, and if that office was not available, then by the Chairman of the Mäjilis, followed by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan. [5]

Beyond the constitutional provisions, Kazakhstan has maintained a formal protocol hierarchy of officials, which determines ceremonial precedence at state and international events. The ProtocolSeniority of Officials of the Republic of Kazakhstan during Domestic and International Events, issued by presidential decree in 2006, listed the relative ranking of key officials, including the First President, the head of the Presidential Administration, parliamentary leaders, and other senior government figures. [6] While this list does not affect constitutional succession, it provides insight into the practical political hierarchy and the prominence of various offices within the state apparatus. [7] In 2025, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev issued amendments to the protocol, updating certain positions, reordering specific offices, and adjusting ceremonial precedence such as removing the First President and certain top offices. [8] [9]

Application

The succession provision has been invoked once in Kazakhstan's history. In March 2019, following the resignation of long-serving President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the office of president was assumed by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, then Chairman of the Senate. [10] Tokayev subsequently called a snap presidential election, which he won in June 2019.

No other instances of succession under Article 48 have occurred.

Presidential succession by acting presidents

SuccessorPartyPresidentReasonDate of succession
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Nur Otan Nursultan Nazarbayev Resignation20 March 2019, 27 years, 3 months and 3 days into Nazarbayev's presidency.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 24 April 1990 [30 August 1995]. s. III art. 48 para.1. 1. Retrieved 25 August 2025– via "Adilet" LIS.
  2. ↑ Vedomosti of the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh SSR (24 April 1990). Об учреждении поста Президента Казахской ССР и внесении изменений и дополнений в Конституцию (Основной Закон) Казахской ССР [On the establishment of the post of the President of the Kazakh SSR and the introduction of amendments and additions to the Constitution (Basic Law) of the Kazakh SSR] (in Russian). Almaty: Vedomosti of the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh SSR. ch 12-1 art 114-8. Retrieved 25 August 2025– via Information System "PARAGRAF".
  3. ↑ "President". ҚАЗАҚСТАН РЕСПУБЛИКАСЫНЫҢ КОНСТИТУЦИЯСЫ [CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN] (No. 4122) (in Kazakh). Almaty: Supreme Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan. ch 13 art 83. Retrieved 25 August 2025– via "Adilet" LIS.
  4. ↑ President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (1995) [6 September 1995]. Қазақстан Республикасының Конституциясы туралы [On the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan] (Decree N 2454) (in Kazakh). Almaty – via "Adilet" LIS.
  5. ↑ Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 24 April 1990 [30 August 1995]. s. III art. 48 para.1. 1. Retrieved 25 August 2025– via "Adilet" LIS.
  6. ↑ President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2006) [Adopted October 2006; amended February 2025]. Қазақстан Республикасының Мемлекеттiк протоколын бекiту туралы [On Ratification of the State Protocol of the Republic of Kazakhstan] (Decree No. 201, Appendix 1) (in Kazakh). Astana. 30279 – via "Adilet" LIS.
  7. ↑ Ардақ, Жанат (17 April 2023). "Биліктегі ең маңызды, мәртебелі тұлғалардың ресми "рейтингі" анықталды". Inbusiness (in Kazakh). Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  8. ↑ "Президент лауазымды адамдардың протоколдық сатысын бекітті". Kazinform (in Kazakh). 20 February 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  9. ↑ Жұмағалиқызы, Қырмызы (20 February 2025). "Тоқаев лауазымды адамдардың протоколдық сатысын бекітті". Egemen Qazaqstan (in Kazakh). Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  10. ↑ "Қазақстан Республикасының Конституциясына сәйкес Сенат Төрағасының құқықтары". Qazaqstan (in Kazakh). 20 March 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
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