Nursultan Nazarbayev A prominent figure in Kazakh politics, he assumed the presidency of Kazakhstan in 1990 and served five consecutive terms until resigning in 2019. His leadership played a critical role in positioning Kazakhstan as a vital economic power in Central Asia and a vital member of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a grouping of former Soviet states.
Biography
Nazarbayev was born on July 6, 1940, near Almaty in Kazakhstan, then part of the Soviet Union, into a family of Kazakh farmers. He received his education at technical schools in Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, he worked as a steelmaker and engineer at the Karaganda Iron and Steel Works in Kazakhstan.
His political career began with joining the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) in 1962, which marked the beginning of his ascent through the party ladder. In 1979, he secured his place as a full member of the Politburo of Kazakhstan, the highest political body of the Communist Party. He later served as Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Kazakhstan from 1984 to 1989, and First Secretary of the Council of Ministers of Kazakhstan.
Communist Party from 1989 to 1991 and full member of the Politburo of the CPSU from 1990 to 1991. In 1990, the Supreme Council of Kazakhstan elected him president of the republic.
Attitude towards Mikhail Gorbachev
In 1991, Nazarbayev opposed a failed coup attempt against Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and resigned from the CPSU Politburo in August of that year. He remained president after Kazakhstan declared its independence from the Soviet Union in December. Nazarbayev's tenure was marked by the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the promotion of economic reforms and trade policies that addressed many of the problems resulting from poor Soviet governance.
Becoming President of Kazakhstan
Nursultan Nazarbayev's leadership in Kazakhstan initially seemed more restrained compared to his counterparts in Central Asia. However, over time, his regime became more authoritarian, concentrating power primarily in his own hands rather than distributing it through democratic means or the rule of law. A decisive referendum in 1995 extended his presidency until 2000. Nazarbayev then won re-election in 1999, triggering early elections, and again in 2005. A 2007 constitutional amendment specifically exempted him from the two-term presidential term limit.
- By April 2011, facing only token opposition, Nazarbayev won another term. In the next elections, he received more than 95% of the votes - which were in 2015.
- In 2017, he introduced constitutional reforms to bolster parliament and the cabinet, paving the way for a smooth transition of power.
Resignation from the presidency
He stepped down as president on March 19, 2019, but retained significant influence by retaining top positions such as head of the security council and maintaining his status as leader of the nation.
At the end of 2021, he handed over leadership of the party to his chosen successor, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. At the beginning of 2022, amid protesters' demands for his complete withdrawal from politics, Nazarbayev was removed from his post as head of the Security Council.
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