Kazakhstan to vote on constitution overhaul

Kazakhs cast ballots on Sunday in a constitutional referendum though several proposed amendments appear to strengthen presidential powers of Kazakhstan.

The vote on changing around 80 percent of the country's basic law was pushed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Announcing the amendments in February, the president said that Kazakhstan was moving away from a super-presidential form of rule and transitioning to a presidential republic with a strong parliament. He added that his proposals were created for new system of state governance that would allow for the redistribution of power.