NUR-SULTAN, April 9. /TASS/. Kazakhstan’s snap presidential election will take place on June 9, 2019, the country’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in an address to the nation, which was broadcast on state TV.

"In accordance with the country’s constitution, I have made a decision to set a snap presidential election for June 9, 2019," Tokayev said.

He emphasized that "it is necessary to hold a snap presidential election" and vowed to make sure the election was fair and transparent. According to Tokayev, the presidential election will be held in order to eliminate any uncertainty at an important time in the country’s history and "ensure the stability and continuity of the policy course" set by Kazakhstan’s first President Nusrultan Nazarbayev.

According to Tokayev, he decided to call a snap election after holding consultations with Nazarbayev, the speakers of both houses of parliament, the prime minister and leaders of political parties.

"I firmly believe that it is necessary to hold a snap election. In order to ensure social and political harmony, move forward with confidence and accomplish social and economic tasks, there is a need to eliminate any uncertainty," Tokayev said.

His address to the nation lasted seven minutes. He first spoke in Kazakh, then in Russian.

Presidential decree

A decree calling a snap presidential election has been published on the Kazakh president’s website. According to the document, the country’s Central Election Commission is tasked to organize and hold the vote, while the government is to provide it with organizational, technical and financial support. Regional administrations are "to compile and check voter registers in due time" and cooperate with the Central Election Commission and its local branches.

Change of power

On March 20, Tokayev took the oath as Kazakhstan’s president following Nazarbayev’s resignation that he announced in an address to the nation. However, Nazarbayev said 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.