Editing Kazakhstan (section)

===Political reforms===
Reforms have begun to be implemented after the election of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in June 2019. Tokayev supports a culture of opposition, public assembly, and loosening rules on forming political parties.<ref name="poleform">{{cite news |title=Kazakhstan to Liberalize Rules on Protests and Political Parties |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2019-12-20/kazakhstan-to-liberalize-rules-on-protests-and-political-parties |agency=REUTERS |publisher=USNews |access-date=24 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224202342/https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2019-12-20/kazakhstan-to-liberalize-rules-on-protests-and-political-parties |archive-date=24 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2019, Tokayev established the National Council of Public Trust as a public platform for national conversation regarding government policies and reforms.<ref name="Iran Daily">{{cite web |title=Kazakhstan President Tokayev's initiatives on public safety, rule of law, human rights |url=http://www.iran-daily.com/News/263944.html |website=iran-daily.com |access-date=8 April 2020 |date=5 January 2020 |archive-date=14 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114194339/http://www.iran-daily.com/News/263944.html |url-status=live }} [[File:CC BY icon.svg|50px]] Text was copied from this source, which is available under a [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016050101/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |date=16 October 2017 }}.</ref> In July 2019, the President of Kazakhstan announced a concept of a 'listening state' that quickly and efficiently responds to all constructive requests of the country's citizens.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/commentary/long-take/first-glimpses-of-tokayevs-kazakhstan/|title=First glimpses of Tokayev's Kazakhstan: The listening state?|date=17 September 2019|website=Atlantic Council|language=en-US|access-date=7 April 2020|archive-date=20 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920081417/https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/commentary/long-take/first-glimpses-of-tokayevs-kazakhstan/|url-status=live}}</ref> A law will be passed to allow representatives from other parties to hold chair positions on some Parliamentary committees, to foster alternative views and opinions.{{when|date=March 2022}} The minimum membership threshold needed to register a political party will be reduced from 40,000 to 20,000 members.<ref name="Iran Daily"/> Special places for peaceful rallies in central areas will be allocated and a new draft law outlining the rights and obligations of organisers, participants and observers will be passed.<ref name="Iran Daily"/> In an effort to increase public safety, President Tokayev has strengthened the penalties for those who commit crimes against individuals.<ref name="Iran Daily"/>

On 17 September 2022, Tokayev signed a decree that limits presidential tenure to one term of seven years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kazakhstan limits presidential term, renames capital |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/17/kazakhstan-limits-presidential-term-renames-capital |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=aljazeera.com |language=en |archive-date=17 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220917174621/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/17/kazakhstan-limits-presidential-term-renames-capital |url-status=live }}</ref> He furthermore announced the preparation of a new reform package to "decentralize" and "distribute" power between government institutions. The reform package also seeks to modify the electoral system and increase the decision-making authorities of Kazakhstan's regions.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-11-18 |title=Tokayev bites the reform bullet |url=https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2022/11/19/tokayev-bites-the-reform-bullet/ |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=East Asia Forum |language=en |archive-date=21 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221081643/https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2022/11/19/tokayev-bites-the-reform-bullet/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The powers of the parliament were expanded at the expense of those of the president, relatives of whom are now also barred from holding government positions, while the Constitutional Court was restored and the death penalty abolished.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kazakhstan: Voters back reforms to reject founder's legacy |url=https://www.dw.com/en/kazakhstan-voters-back-reforms-to-reject-founders-legacy/a-62037144 |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=dw.com |language=en |archive-date=21 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221081812/https://www.dw.com/en/kazakhstan-voters-back-reforms-to-reject-founders-legacy/a-62037144 |url-status=live }}</ref>