Tuesday, Baurzhan Abiyev, the Counselor of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Jordan, called on the Kazakh community in Jordan to participate in the referendum on the country's constitution, which is set to take place next Sunday, June 5.

In a press conference, Abiyev indicated that the embassy will open its doors on June 5 for the Kazakh community in Jordan to enable them to vote on the new constitutional amendments.

During the press conference, Abiyev presented the main constitutional amendments that will be voted on next week.

When asked about the eligible age to start voting, Abiyev said in an exclusive statement to Roya that every citizen of Kazakhstan who has reached the age of 18 and has an active right to vote, can vote.

He also spoke about the process for Kazakhs residing in Jordan and wishing to vote, saying, “Every Kazakhstan citizen who lives temporarily in Jordan, who has a valid passport of a citizen of Kazakhstan, can vote," adding that in order to vote, they can head to the Kazakhstan Embassy in Amman.

Notably, the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in a televised address to the nation on constitutional reform, announced that he has signed a Decree on holding a state-wide referendum on June 5, 2022, on the adoption of amendments and additions to the Constitution.

Tokayev said, “Amendments to the Constitution are crucial for our country. The changes will affect a third of its articles. Therefore, I proposed to bring this issue to a republican referendum, because such large-scale changes should be carried out on the basis of the will of the people.”

According to the President, the referendum on the draft constitutional amendments will demonstrate the country’s firm commitment to democratic principles, adding that “it will allow every citizen to take a direct part in the historic event that will determine the future of Kazakhstan.”

Tokayev noted that the constitutional reform is aimed at a comprehensive transformation of the entire state model, which includes the final transition from a "super-presidential" form of government to a presidential republic with an influential parliament and an accountable government, which entails limiting the powers of the President. In addition, the constitutional reform will significantly strengthen the representative branch of power, strengthen the system of checks and balances, and increase the independence of maslikhats (local representative bodies). Furthermore, the introduction of a mixed majority-proportional model for the election of deputies to the Mazhilis and regional maslikhats will make it possible to cover the entire spectrum of views and opinions of voters more fully. A section of the amendments will also further enhance the protection of human rights, by establishing the Constitutional Court, consolidating the status of the Commissioner for Human Rights at the constitutional level, and fully banning the death penalty.

President Tokayev summarized the initiatives by emphasizing that, “the constitutional reform will mark a new stage in the development of our country.”

Concluding his televised Address, the President called on everyone to take an active part in the referendum “for the sake of the future of our country, for the sake of future generations,” adding that “together we will build a New Kazakhstan, a fair Kazakhstan!”