The statement published on February 4, 2019, on the Constitutional Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s website announcing Nursultan Nazarbayev’s request to officially explain Section 3 of Article 42 of the Constitution evoked a heated discussion in the civil society. With that, many discussants suspect that the President’s intention is in some way connected with the plans to give the Presidential chair to a chosen successor.

We believe, there is something else behind Nazarbayev’s request. There is a contradiction in the law that inadvertently appeared due to the fact that the previous presidential elections had been held ahead of schedule.

Here is what Section 3 of Article 42 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan stipulates.

«The powers of the President of the Republic are terminated the moment a newly elected President of the Republic assumes the office as well as in the case of early resignation or impeachment or death. All former Presidents of the Republic, except those impeached, have the title of ‘Ex-President of the Republic of Kazakhstan».

With that, according to Section 1 of Article 41 of the Constitution, «the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan is elected in accordance with the constitutional law by national adults on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot for a term of 5 years».

Meanwhile, the last time Nursultan Nazarbayev was elected President of the Republic of Kazakhstan happened via early elections held on April 26, 2015. He assumed the office and took the oath on April 29, 2015.

In other words, in accordance with Section 1 of Article 41 of the Kazakh Constitution, the current presidential authorities end on April 28, 2020. At the same time, in accordance with Section 3, they are terminated the moment a newly elected President assumes the office. And, according to that same Section 3, «regular elections of the President of the Republic are held on the first Sunday of December and cannot coincide with elections of the new Parliament of the Republic».

In consequence of this discrepancy, in the period between April 28, 2020, and the day the next President of the Republic assumes the office (in other words, several days after the first Sunday of December 2020), Nursultan Nazarbayev’s presidential powers remain in question.

In our opinion, it is to avoid this collision that Nursultan Nazarbayev has addressed the Constitutional Council. With that, the latter may choose to make any decision. It may allow Nursultan Nazarbayev to sit quietly until his scheduled reelection on December 6, 2020, or else it may allow him to be reelected earlier.

After all, you are the master of your destiny as they say, and the Constitutional Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan is but one of the «cow-tails» of the super-presidential power vertical.