Tokayev not to reshuffle Kazakh govt formed by Nazarbayev
NUR-SULTAN. April 2 (Interfax) - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has said he believes it would not be necessary to reshuffle the government, which Nursultan Nazarbayev formed before his resignation as president.
"A change in the presidency does not necessarily require a change in the government. The government was formed a short time ago. There is a lot of work to be done without delay. [...] So, I see no need for reshuffling the government as of this moment," Tokayev told the newspaper Yegemen Kazakhstan and Aikyn in an interview published on Tuesday.
He noted that ministers must not neglect their current duties while fulfilling individual assignments.
"The ministers have been given individual assignments, but they also have current duties, such as fulfillment of the instructions given by the congress, prevention of spring floods, and provision of spring sowing. [...] The work of government members will be assessed by their results," Tokayev said.
The new Kazakh government of Prime Minister Askar Mamim was formed on February 25.
On March 19, Nursultan Nazarbayev signed an order announcing his resignation as the Kazakh president on March 20. Former Senate Speaker Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was appointed acting president. He will be the sitting president for the rest of Nazarbayev's tenure, which expires in April 2020.
The Constitution requires that the Senate speaker assumes the presidential office in case of resignation of the elected president the moment he takes the oath of allegiance to the people of Kazakhstan. Such official will have no right to initiate changes or additions to the Constitution.
Tokayev took the office on March 20. He pledged allegiance to the people at a joint meeting of parliament chambers.