ASTANA, March 20. /TASS/. Former head of the Kazakh Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Defense and Security Dariga Nazarbaeyva has been elected Senate Chair on Wednesday, a TASS correspondent reported from the parliament’s press center.

According to the country’s laws, the president nominates one of the senate members for chair, who is elected by senators through a secret ballot. All the 44 senators present at the session voted in Nazarbayeva’s favor.

"I would like to wholeheartedly thank you for your trust. I realize very well the role the parliament plays in the country’s political and social life, particularly as we are at a turning point of our history. Our Yelbasy [the leader of the nation - TASS] has outlined large-scale tasks to modernize society, enhance social welfare and the protection of vulnerable social groups. Our development strategy and legislative activities are primarily aimed at improving the people’s lives and ensuring the country’s prosperity for the sake of its people," Nazarbayeva said.

On Wednesday, Kazakh Senate Speaker Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was sworn in as president following a resignation announcement Nursultan Nazarbayev had made on Tuesday. Nazarbayev said in his address to the country’s people that he would remain head of the Kazakh Security Council and leader of the Nur Otan party, as well as member of the Constitutional Council.

Nazarbayev became Kazakhstan’s first president in 1990 and was elected president in a nationwide election in 1991.

Tokayev earlier served as speaker of Kazakhstan’s upper house of parliament, prime minister and foreign minister, as well as a United Nations under secretary general.