Kazakh President Tokayev withdraws from ruling party, Majilis speaker elected new party leader

NUR-SULTAN. April 26 (Interfax) - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has announced his decision to step down as leader of the ruling party Amanat (formerly Nur Otan) and terminate his membership.

"Starting today, I have decided to withdraw from the Amanat party and terminate my chairmanship in it," Tokayev said at the party's extraordinary convention on Tuesday.

Tokayev proposed that Yerlan Koshanov, speaker of the Majilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh parliament, become new party leader. The convention participants unanimously supported the proposal.