President of Kazakhstan facts for kids
The President of Kazakhstan is the main leader of the country, like the head of the team. This person is also the commander-in-chief of Kazakhstan's armed forces. The President holds the highest position in the country and leads the National Security Council. The powers and duties of the President are explained in a special part of Kazakhstan's Constitution.
The job of President was created in 1990, just before the Soviet Union broke apart. Nursultan Nazarbayev became the first President and served for almost 30 years until he stepped down in March 2019. After him, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev became the acting President on March 20, 2019, and was then elected in June 2019.
The official home and workplace of the President is the Ak Orda Presidential Palace. The Constitution gives the President a lot of power over Kazakhstan's plans both inside the country and with other nations. The President chooses important government officials, including the Prime Minister and other ministers. The President also plays a key role in keeping the country safe and dealing with foreign countries, and can declare a state of emergency if needed. They also issue official orders and make sure laws passed by the parliament are followed.
If the President cannot do their job, the powers are temporarily given to the Chairman of the Senate. This person becomes the acting President until a new President is chosen by the people.
Some international observers have raised concerns about how fair presidential elections in Kazakhstan have been. They have mentioned issues like limited choices for voters and restrictions on what media could report. The President is chosen directly by the people of Kazakhstan for a seven-year term.
Quick facts for kids President of the Republic of Kazakhstan |
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| Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan | |
| Style | Mr. President (informal) His Excellency (diplomatic) |
| Residence | Ak Orda Presidential Palace |
| Appointer | Direct popular vote |
| Term length | Seven years, non-renewable |
| Inaugural holder | Nursultan Nazarbayev |
| Formation | 24 April 1990 |
| Salary | ₸7,876,032.18 |
| Website | akorda.kz akorda.kz |
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Contents
How a President is Chosen
To become President, a person must be a citizen of Kazakhstan and at least 40 years old. They must also speak the Kazakh language perfectly and have lived in Kazakhstan for at least 15 years. Election day is usually on the first Sunday of December and does not happen at the same time as Parliament elections. The Constitution says a President can only serve two terms in a row.
The candidate who gets more than half of the votes wins the election. If no one gets more than 50% of the votes, there is a second round. The two candidates with the most votes from the first round compete again. The one who gets more votes in the second round becomes the new President.
Presidential Symbols
The President of Kazakhstan has special symbols, including a breast badge and a presidential standard.
Presidential Standard
The President's standard is a flag that looks like the national flag, with a size ratio of 1:2. In the middle of the standard is the emblem of Kazakhstan. It has a golden fringe border on three sides.
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The current presidential standard has been used since 2012. The older standard, used from 1995 to 2012, was a light blue flag with a golden circle. Inside the circle was a picture of a young Kazakh leader from the Sakas people riding a snow leopard.
Order of the Golden Eagle
The Order of the Golden Eagle (Altyn Qyran Order) is the highest award a civilian can receive in Kazakhstan. It is given to people from Kazakhstan and other countries who have done amazing things for the nation. As the country's leader, the President of Kazakhstan automatically receives a special version of this award.
The President in the Constitution
The Constitution says that no one can be elected President more than two times in a row. However, it also states that this rule does not apply to the First President of Kazakhstan.
The Constitution also says that the President's "honor and dignity are protected" and that the state pays for their expenses. The first President has a special status and powers, which are explained in a separate law. This law says the first President cannot be held responsible for actions taken while in office. They also keep their status as a government official for life. They can still speak to the people of Kazakhstan and receive security, communication, transport, and state support. Their official home and summer house become their own property, with state maintenance. They also get medical care, health resorts, pensions, and insurance.
On April 26, 2015, Nursultan Nazarbayev was re-elected for his fifth term as President. The official ceremony took place on April 29 in Nur-Sultan. At the ceremony, the President promised to continue five important reforms to help the country grow and develop.
On January 25, 2017, President Nursultan Nazarbayev started changes to the Constitution. These changes aimed to give more power to the parliament and government ministries. This was done to make the government more open and work better.
Presidential Administration
The Presidential Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan helps the President with their daily tasks. It was created on October 20, 1995. It is located in the Ak Orda Presidential Palace in the capital city of Nur-Sultan. Before that, it was in Almaty.
The fifth presidential election in Kazakhstan was held on June 9, 2019. This was the first election since the first President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, stepped down.
Past Presidents of Kazakhstan
See also
- List of leaders of Kazakhstan
- Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
- Vice President of Kazakhstan
