On January 31, a new Constitution project was presented in Kazakhstan. Among the new provisions is the fact that “violations of the honor and dignity of others, the health of citizens and the morality of society, or the breach of public order” will not be permitted.
International treaties ratified by Kazakhstan will lose their automatic priority over the country’s domestic laws. Marriage will be enshrined as a union between a man and a woman.
Until now, the Russian language was used equally with the Kazakh in state institutions, the new regulations establish that it can be used “at the same time”.
Analysts do not rule out that, after the adoption of the new provisions, Tokaev will try to stay in power, reducing to zero the period of the previous mandate, as previously done by Vladimir Putin, according to Meduza.
The document was drafted as part of a reform by President Tokaev. In September 2025, he proposed transforming the parliament from a bicameral to a unicameral one, warning that the implementation of the measure would require the amendment of about 40 articles of the Supreme Law.
On January 20, 2026, the authorities in Kazakhstan announced that during the process it became clear that many more amendments were needed, and such measures would be equivalent to the adoption of a new Constitution. The next day, the Kazakh leader created a commission that drafted the document.
About 84% of the entire text of the Constitution will be modified. The number of deputies will be reduced from the current 148 to 145. The quotas that allowed the appointment and delegation of people’s representatives, instead of their election, will be abolished.
The Vice-President’s function, which existed in Kazakhstan until 1996, will be reinstated. The list of high-ranking officials appointed by the President will be doubled.
Also, a new governmental advisory body will be created – the People’s Council, which will meet at least once a year and will have the right to present bills and propose referendums. The President is expected to appoint the members of this entity.
The population of Kazakhstan is expected to participate in a referendum to amend the Constitution in March.