TOKAYEV SWORN IN AS KAZAKH PRESIDENT

Sat 26 November 2022:

After an inaugural ceremony in the nation’s capital, Astana, Kazakhstan’s new president officially took office on Saturday, Anadolu Agency reported.

During the event, which began with the introduction of the Kazakh flag, presidential standard, and Constitution into the Grand Hall, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was sworn in.

Tokayev was sworn in as the country’s head of state after taking an oath of allegiance to its citizens.

“I solemnly swear to truly serve the people of Kazakhstan, strictly adhere to the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan, guarantee the rights and freedoms of citizens, conscientiously fulfill the high duties of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan that have been vested in me,” Tokayev said, with his right hand on a copy of the country’s constitution.

In his address, he said the snap presidential election held earlier this month was a “patriotic triumph,” confirmed by journalists and international observers to have been “just and open.”

“I see the election results as support for my political platform and a mandate of trust for the implementation of plans for the coming period. It is a high honor and a colossal responsibility to lead the country, enjoying the people’s support,” he said.

Tokayev said he would hold state interests “above all” and vowed to do “everything possible” to meet the people’s expectations, “to build a just Kazakhstan.”

Speaking about foreign policy, Tokayev said his administration would focus on “mutually beneficial cooperation and strategic partnership” with neighboring countries — other Central Asian countries, as well as Russia and China.

He also announced several rural development initiatives, the return of national assets that he said were “illegally withdrawn” from the country, and “political modernization.”

Tokayev later signed a decree setting the date for upcoming Senate elections to Jan. 14.

Tokayev was proclaimed the winner of the elections held on November 22 during a press conference by Kazakhstan’s Central Election Committee.

The election’s final results, according to committee chair Nurlan Abdirov, showed that Tokayev received 81.31% of the vote, or around 6.45 million ballots, out of about 12 million eligible voters.

Almost 8.3 million ballots were cast in the election, representing a 69.4% voter turnout.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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