Updated March 24, 2026: This article has been updated to include remarks from French President Emmanuel Macron and congratulatory messages from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. https://x.com/aqorda_press/status/2036454765148905967?s
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev began receiving congratulations from foreign leaders on March 16 after Kazakhstan announced that voters had approved a new constitution in a nationwide referendum. As reported by The Times of Central Asia, turnout reached 73.12%, with 87.15% of voters supporting the proposed amendments.
The March 15 referendum backed sweeping institutional changes aimed at modernizing the political system and strengthening state institutions to meet the demands of a rapidly changing global landscape, including replacing Kazakhstan’s bicameral parliament with a single chamber, restoring the post of vice president, and creating a new People’s Council (Kurultai) with the power to initiate legislation and referendums.
Several regional leaders reached out directly to Tokayev after the results were announced. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated Tokayev during a telephone conversation on March 16. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari also sent congratulatory messages. French President Emmanuel Macron likewise congratulated Tokayev during a March 17 telephone call, describing the referendum as a historic step forward in Kazakhstan’s modernization and expressing interest in deepening bilateral cooperation, particularly in industry and energy. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on successfully holding a national referendum and adopting a new constitution, expressing confidence that it would strengthen Kazakhstan’s future development and global standing in a call on March 24.
Beyond Kazakhstan’s immediate regional partners, the U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan also publicly congratulated the people of Kazakhstan in a post on X following the referendum.
Tokayev has described the vote as a historic moment that will shape the country’s future political system. The government is now expected to begin implementing the constitutional changes, including preparing for new parliamentary elections under the revised framework.
