Tokayev’s spokesman comments on new decree extending authority of Nazarbayev

AKIPRESS.COM - Spokesman Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Berik Kurmangali commented on Facebook the new decree expanding authority of the ex-President Nursultan Nazarbayev. "This document has sparked various comments and interpretations on media. To my mind, it is a standard decree of the President. It's signing was envisaged in the new law on the Security Council, which was adopted in July 2018," the spokesman noted.
Kurmangali said that the law on Security Council implies strengthening of authorities of the collective body, which is headed by Nazarbayev for the life term.
According to him, the decree "does not hinder the President in practice to take independent decisions on all staff issues".
President Tokayev on October 21 signed the decree, which empowers the First President Nursultan Nazarbayeva in the staffing policy in the system of state bodies.
According to the document, appointment of ministers, except for Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Defense and the Minister of Interior, will be carried out by President after approval of the Chairman of the Security Council. In addition, the text of the decree requires consent of the Chairman of the Security Council while naming heads of agencies, including those subordinate to President of Kazakhstan.