Editing Nursultan Nazarbayev (section)

=== 2015–2019: Fifth and final term ===
Nazarbayev for the last time ran again in the [[2015 Kazakh presidential election|2015 presidential election]] for the fifth term. From there, he gathered 97.7% of the vote share in the first round, making it one of the biggest in Kazakhstan's history.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lillis|first=Joanna|date=27 April 2015|title=Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev Apologetic for Lopsided Election Results |url=https://eurasianet.org/kazakhstan-nazarbayev-apologetic-for-lopsided-election-results|access-date=29 January 2021|website=eurasianet.org|language=en}}</ref> In his victory speech, he emphasized the top priority in [[Nurly Zhol]] stimulus package that was designed in softening the social blow caused by economic troubles.<ref>{{Cite web|date=27 April 2015|title=Казахстан сохранит ключевые приоритеты во внутренней и внешней политике – Н.Назарбаев|url=https://www.inform.kz/ru/article/2770367|access-date=29 January 2021|website=inform.kz|language=ru}}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> At a later news conference, Nazarbayev speaking about the electoral results remarked, "I apologize that for superdemocratic states such figures are unacceptable. But I could do nothing. If I had interfered, I would have looked undemocratic, right?"<ref>{{Cite news|last=Roth|first=Andrew|date=27 April 2015|title=Kazakhstan's President Is Re-elected by Almost Every Voter|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/28/world/asia/nursultan-a-nazarbayev-kazakhstan-re-elected.html|access-date=2 February 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The [[Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe]] criticized the election as falling short of international democratic standards.<ref>[http://www.osce.org/odihr-elections/16471.html Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights – Elections]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709175625/http://www.osce.org/odihr-elections/16471.html|date=9 July 2015}}</ref>

In early 2016, it was announced that 1.7 million hectares of agricultural land would be sold at an auction. This sparked [[2016 Protests against land reforms in Kazakhstan|rare protests around the country]] which called for Nazarbayev to stop the momentum on land sales and solve the nation's problems as well. In response to the fears of the lands being sold to foreigners, especially Chinese, Nazarbayev fired back at claims, calling them "groundless" and warned that any provocateur would be punished.<ref>{{Cite news|date=28 April 2016|title=Kazakhstan's land reform protests explained|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36163103|access-date=29 January 2021}}</ref> On 1 May 2016, at the [[Kazakhstan People's Unity Day]], Nazarbayev warned that without unity and stability, a crisis similarly in [[Ukraine]] would happen.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1 May 2016|title=Kazakh leader evokes Ukraine as land protests spread|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kazakhstan-protests-president-idUSKCN0XS1E1|access-date=29 January 2021}}</ref> In June 2016, [[2016 Aktobe shootings|armed attacks in Aktobe]] took place resulting in deaths of 25 people. Nazarbayev called the incident as terrorist attacks which were orchestrated from abroad to destabilize the country similarly in a [[colour revolution]] to which he accused of being infiltrated by the [[ISIS]] militants.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Orazgaliyeva|first=Malika|date=9 June 2016|title=Kazakh President Declares June 9 as National Day of Mourning|url=https://astanatimes.com/2016/06/kazakh-president-declares-june-9-as-national-day-of-mourning/|access-date=29 January 2021|website=The Astana Times|language=en}}</ref>[[File:Informal meeting with Nursultan Nazarabayev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev 02.jpg|thumb|Nazarbayev with [[Vladimir Putin]] and [[Shavkat Mirziyoyev]] in October 2018]]On 8 September 2016, Nazarbayev appointed [[Karim Massimov]] as the [[National Security Committee (Kazakhstan)|National Security Committee]] Chairman and [[Bakhytzhan Sagintayev]] to the post of the PM.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 September 2016|title=Bakytzhan Sagintayev is appointed Kazakhstan's new prime minister|url=https://tass.com/world/898881|access-date=29 January 2021|website=Tass}}</ref> Days later on 13 September, Nazarbayev's daughter [[Dariga Nazarbayeva|Dariga]] was appointed as the member of the [[Senate of Kazakhstan|Senate]]. This suggested that Nazarbayev was preparing for his succession to be taken over by Dariga as the cabinet reshuffling had occurred after Uzbek President [[Islam Karimov]]'s death which created political uncertainty in the neighboring country.<ref>{{Cite news|date=13 September 2016|title=Kazakh leader promotes daughter, confidant in reshuffle|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kazakhstan-president-daughter-idUSKCN11J1JR|access-date=29 January 2021}}</ref> Nazarbayev dismissed the claims of hereditary succession in an interview to the [[Bloomberg News]] in November 2016, saying that the "transfer of power is spelled out by the Constitution."<ref>{{Cite news|date=23 November 2016|title=Kazakh President Nazarbayev Says Power Won't Be Family Business|language=en|work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-23/kazakh-president-nazarbayev-says-power-won-t-be-family-business|access-date=29 January 2021}}</ref>

In January 2017, Nazarbayev proposed constitutional reforms, which would allow for the [[Parliament of Kazakhstan|Parliament]] to have greater role in decision making, calling it "a consistent and logical step in the development of the state".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Uatkhanov|first=Yerbolat|date=25 January 2017|title=Kazakh President, Special Panel Mull Major Political Reforms|url=https://astanatimes.com/2017/01/kazakh-president-special-panel-mull-major-political-reforms/|access-date=29 January 2021|website=The Astana Times|language=en}}</ref> The Parliament approved several amendments to the [[Constitution of Kazakhstan|Constitution]] on 5 March 2017, making the president no longer able to override parliamentary votes of no-confidence, while giving the legislative branch to form a government cabinet, implementing state programs and policies. The move was seen as way by Nazarbayev to ensure the potential of a peaceful transfer of power.<ref>{{Cite news|date=6 March 2017|title=Kazakhstan parliament passes reforms reducing presidential powers|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kazakhstan-constitution-idUSKBN16D0CY|access-date=29 January 2021}}</ref>

Nazarbayev, along with seventeen heads of state and government from around the world, which included [[Felipe VI|Felipe VI of Spain]] and leaders of the [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation|Shanghai Cooperation Organization]] member countries, consisting of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and India, attended the opening ceremony of [[Expo 2017]] which was held in [[Astana]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 June 2017|title=Kazakhstan celebrates inauguration of Expo 2017 Astana|url=https://www.efe.com/efe/english/patrocinada/kazakhstan-celebrates-inauguration-of-expo-2017-astana/50000268-3292933|access-date=29 January 2021|website=efe.com|language=en}}</ref> An estimated 3.86 million people visited the site with Nazarbayev at the closing ceremony on 10 September 2017 calling it as "Kazakhstan's most brilliant achievements since its independence."<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 September 2017|title=Expo Astana 2017 closes after three successful months|url=https://www.efe.com/efe/english/corporate/expo-astana-2017-closes-after-three-successful-months/50000271-3375126|access-date=29 January 2021|website=efe.com|language=en}}</ref>

Senate Chairman [[Kassym-Jomart Tokayev]], in an interview to [[BBC News]] in June 2018, suggested that Nazarbayev's term presidential from 2015 was in fact, the last one as he hinted the possibility that Nazarbayev would not run for re-election which was scheduled for 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|date=20 June 2018|title=I doubt Kazakh president will run again|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-44546885|access-date=29 January 2021}}</ref> Minister of Information and Communications [[Dauren Abaev]] responded to Tokayev's statements claiming that "there's still a lot of time" for Nazarbayev to decide on whether to run for re-election pointing out that the decision will be primarily based on his. He also added that the country would only benefit if Nazarbayev chooses to run for sixth term.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Айтжанова|first=Ботагоз|date=21 June 2018|title='Решение за Президентом' – Абаев об участии Назарбаева в выборах в 2020 году|url=https://tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_news/reshenie-prezidentom-abaev-uchastii-nazarbaeva-vyiborah-2020-347099/|access-date=29 January 2021|website=Tengrinews.kz|language=ru}}</ref>

====Resignation====
On 19 March 2019, following unusually persistent [[2018–2020 Kazakh protests|protests]] in cities across the country,<ref name="rferlresign">{{cite news|title=Kazakh President Nazarbaev Abruptly Resigns, But Will Retain Key Roles|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-president-nursultan-nazarbaev-says-he-is-resigning-/29830123.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319195948/https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-president-nursultan-nazarbaev-says-he-is-resigning-/29830123.html|archive-date=19 March 2019|access-date=19 March 2019|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=19 March 2019 }}</ref> Nazarbayev announced his resignation as President of Kazakhstan, citing the need for "a new generation of leaders".<ref name="reuters">{{cite news |date=19 March 2019 |title=Veteran Kazakh leader Nazarbayev resigns after three decades in power |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kazakhstan-president/president-of-kazakhstan-nursultan-nazarbayev-resigns-idUSKCN1R01N1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320043009/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kazakhstan-president/president-of-kazakhstan-nursultan-nazarbayev-resigns-idUSKCN1R01N1 |archive-date=20 March 2019 |access-date=19 March 2019 |work=Reuters}}</ref> The announcement was broadcast in a televised address in [[Astana]] after which he signed a decree ending his powers from 20 March 2019.<ref name="reuters"/> [[Kassym-Jomart Tokayev]], speaker of the upper house of parliament, was appointed as [[President (government title)|president]] of the country until the end of the presidential term.<ref name="reuters"/>

Notwithstanding his resignation as president, he continued to head the ruling [[Nur Otan]] party and remains a member of the [[Constitutional Council (Kazakhstan)|Constitutional Council]]. In his televised address Nazarbayev pointed out that he had been granted the honorary status of ''elbasy'' (leader of the nation, leader of the people{{notetag|Etymology of ''elbasy'': in Turkic languages, 'el'/'il' means 'the people', 'nation', '(home)land', etc., and 'bas'/'bash' means 'head' (both literally and in the meaning of 'leader'). A similar historical title is ''[[ilkhan (title)|Ilkhan]]''.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}} }}), the title bestowed upon him by parliament in 2010.<ref name="rferlresign"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Обращение Главы государства Нурсултана Назарбаева к народу Казахстана – Официальный сайт Президента Республики Казахстан |url=https://www.akorda.kz/ru/speeches/internal_political_affairs/in_speeches_and_addresses/obrashchenie-glavy-gosudarstva-nursultana-nazarbaeva-k-narodu-kazahstana |access-date=13 January 2023 |website=Akorda.kz |language=ru}}</ref> The title was later removed due to the cancellation of the Law on the First President.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kazakhstan Annuls Law 'On the First President' |url=https://thediplomat.com/2023/01/kazakhstan-annuls-law-on-the-first-president/ |access-date=13 January 2023 |website=thediplomat.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Various colleagues of Nazarbayev reacted within hours of the announcement, with Uzbek President [[Shavkat Mirziyoyev]] holding a telephone conversation with Nazarbayev, calling him a "great politician".<ref>{{cite web|title=Shavkat Mirziyoyev Talks with the First President of Kazakhstan on the Phone|url=https://president.uz/en/lists/view/2438|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320231415/https://president.uz/en/lists/view/2438|archive-date=20 March 2019|access-date=21 March 2019|website=president.uz}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Shavkat Mirziyoyev: Nursultan Nazarbayev is a great politician|url=https://www.inform.kz/en/article/3509084|work=Inform|date=19 March 2019}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In a cabinet meeting, Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] praised Nazarbayev's leadership, even going as far as to say that the [[Eurasian Economic Union]] was Nazarbayev's "brainchild".<ref>{{cite web|last=Ruptly|date=20 March 2019|title=Russia: Putin praises former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJszdTom8VI&app=desktop |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/zJszdTom8VI| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Other world leaders who sent messages to Nazarbayev included [[Ilham Aliyev]], [[President of Azerbaijan]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Official web-site of President of Azerbaijan Republic|url=https://en.president.az/articles/32468|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321022944/https://en.president.az/articles/32468|archive-date=21 March 2019|access-date=21 March 2019|website=en.president.az}}</ref> [[Alexander Lukashenko]], [[President of Belarus]], and [[Emomali Rahmon]], [[President of Tajikistan]].

According to Nazarbayev himself, he described his intention for stepping down was due to "peak of trust" by the people and that it was "necessary to leave", recalling his memories in attending funerals of Soviet leaders [[Leonid Brezhnev]], [[Yuri Andropov]] and [[Konstantin Chernenko]], embarking that "there is still a limit of human capabilities."<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|date=21 October 2021|title=Какая болезнь повлияла на решение Назарбаева уйти в отставку|url=https://www.zakon.kz/5087603-kakaya-bolezn-povliyala-na.html|access-date=22 October 2021|website=Zakon.kz|language=ru}}</ref>