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Kazakh's President Resigns after 30 Yrs in Power


Wed 20 Mar 2019 | 09:21 AM
Taarek Refaat

By: Taarek Refaat

ASTANA, Mar.20 (SEE)-  Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced his resignation on Wednesday after nearly 30 years in power in the former Soviet republic.

The 78 years old president said in a televised speech that he decided to reject a new presidential term.

"I have decided to terminate my powers as president," Nazarbayev said, adding that this year marks his 30th anniversary in office.

"I was given the honor of my great people to be the first president of independent Kazakhstan," he added.

In 1989, He was the first secretary of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) and was elected as the country's first president following its independence in 1991.

His resignation comes amid rising social outrage over the deteriorating economic situation after the drop of oil prices that hit the country in 2014.

The resignation also came weeks after Nazarbayev's dismissal of the government.

In 2015 elections, Nazarbayev was re-elected with almost 98 percent of the votes.

Despite resignation, Nazarbayev will still hold an important role on the political arena due to his constitutional status as leader of the nation.