“Principled position”: Tokayev expects a “program of action” from the government and prepares a package of political reforms

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, speaking at a meeting of the lower house of parliament (Mazhilis), instructed the newly appointed Prime Minister of the country, Alikhan Smailov, to prepare a government action program for the current year within three weeks.

“We will consider it at an expanded government meeting in early February,” the head of state was quoted as saying by TASS.

At the same time, he admitted that the public administration system in Kazakhstan is ineffective, bureaucratic and requires reform.

Tokayev also announced that in September he will present a new package of political reforms in the country, and announced his readiness to continue “the course of political modernization.” “This is my principled position,” the president stressed.

Meanwhile, the situation in Kazakhstan as a whole is stabilizing, and “no acute destructive manifestations are recorded,” RIA Novosti notes with reference to the National Security Committee.

Let us remind you that after the New Year, protests began in Kazakhstan – the protesters demanded a reduction in the price of liquefied gas. Later, the actions of discontent escalated into riots and clashes with law enforcement officers, there are dead and wounded. The protesters demanded, in particular, the holding of new elections, consideration of the issue of lustration of people from the “clan” of ex-President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Against this background, the government of Kazakhstan resigned, First Deputy Prime Minister Smailov was appointed acting head of the Cabinet of Ministers, and a state of emergency was declared throughout the country. The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, requested assistance from the CSTO. Detained, according to official data, almost 10 thousand people.