Nursultan Nazarbayev first took power in Kazakhstan during the Soviet era (AFP Photo/ILYAS OMAROV) |
Astana (Kazakhstan) (AFP) - Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced his shock resignation on Tuesday, 29 years after taking office.
"I
have taken the decision to resign from the post of presidency," the
78-year-old said in a speech broadcast on state television.
Nazarbayev
came to power in oil-rich Kazakhstan when it was still a Soviet republic and
has previously never indicated a successor.
"The
mandate of the presidency will pass to the chairman of the senate for the
remainder of my presidential term," Nazarbayev said, referring to the
constitution.
The senate
chair position is currently held by Nazarbayev loyalist Kassym-Jomart Tokayev,
65, a former prime minister and career diplomat.
Nazarbayev's
term expires in March 2020.
The move
comes on the back of growing social discontent and an economy still recovering
from an oil price plunge in 2014.
Western
sanctions against Russia, a key trading partner, have also hit the economy.
The
resignation comes just weeks after the ageing strongman dismissed the country's
government.
Last month
Nazarbayev announced a spending package of several billion dollars on social
programmes and state salaries.
He also
promised major investments in infrastructure.
Nazarbayev
will enjoy significant policy-making powers following his resignation thanks to
his constitutional status as "Leader of the Nation".
He became
lifelong head of the country's security council last year.
Nazarbayev,
who won a 2015 election with almost 98 percent of the vote, was widely expected
to seek another term in 2020.
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