Kazakhstan to hold referendum on new constitution on March 15

The Constitutional Reform Commission of Kazakhstan has published the draft of the new Constitution, Kazinform news agency reported.

On February 11, 2026, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree to hold a nationwide referendum on the adoption of the new Constitution on March 15, 2026.

The main changes include the transition from a bicameral parliament to a unicameral one and stipulating the supremacy of the Constitution over international treaties. The non-official status of the Russian language remains unchanged.

Under the new Constitution, the President of Kazakhstan may be elected for only one seven-year term, without the right to re-election.

If the new Constitution is adopted, the current parliament will terminate its powers as of July 1. Elections for the new unicameral parliament may be scheduled as early as July.

Earlier it was reported that more than 80% of the text of Kazakhstan’s new Constitution has been changed, with amendments affecting 77 articles.

Tokayev stated that the adoption of the amendments would “give a powerful impetus to Kazakhstan’s development and contribute to unlocking the potential of every citizen.”