Kazakh president nominates his chief of staff for PM

ASTANA. Feb 6 (Interfax) - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has nominated his chief of staff Olzhas Bektenov for prime minister.

"I nominate Olzhas Bektenov for prime minister," Tokayev said at a Mazhilis [lower house of the parliament] plenary meeting in Almaty on Tuesday.

Earlier, the ruling Amanat party proposed that Bektenov be nominated for prime minister. By due process, the head of state nominates a candidate for prime minister and seeks the nominee's confirmation by the Mazhilis after consultations with all parliamentary factions.

If the Mazhilis confirms the nominee, the president appoints the prime minister and the formation of a new government begins.