Parliamentary republic not on agenda - Kazakh president

ASTANA. Sept 11 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan is not going to shift to the parliamentary form of government, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in comment on the parliamentary system reform he proposed.

"Let me be very frank: the reason for this reform is further strengthening of the institutional foundation of our political system. The establishment of a parliamentary republic is not on the agenda. Our defining model of a strong president - influential parliament - accountable government remains in effect," Tokayev said at a meeting with participants in the Peace and Future through Law international constitutional justice forum on Thursday.

The presidential statement was quoted by his press service.

Tokayev added that his call for holding a national referendum on a unicameral parliament "again demonstrates the continuity of this principle."

"We should make nothing but consolidated decisions on the issues pertaining to the country's future. So, I always announce political plans in advance. These include the reforms of previous years and the referendum on building a nuclear power plant," Tokayev said.

He said in the annual address to the nation on Monday that the possibility of replacing the bicameral parliament with a unicameral one should continue to be explored and the issue should be put to a referendum.

"Today, I will propose forming a unicameral parliament in our country in the foreseeable future," Tokayev said back then. "I believe the discussion will take at least one year, due to the special nature of this reform, and we can hold a national referendum in 2027 and make the relative constitutional amendments afterwards," he said.