Kazakhstan's new constitution cementing president's grip on power approved in a referendum

A new constitution that strengthens President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s grip on power in Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest country, has won overwhelming approval in a referendum, according to preliminary results released Monday.The country's Central Election Commission announced that over 87% of respondents in Sunday's vote supported the constitutional changes that merge the Kazakhstani parliament’s two chambers into one and give the president the right to appoint key government officials with parliament’s approval, including the restoration of the ​post of vice president. The turnout e…READ FULL ARTICLE