ALMATY, April 2 (The Conway Bulletin) – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev re-installed Karim Massimov as PM on Wednesday, setting off speculation over his succession policy.
Earlier in the day Serik Akhmetov had unexpectedly and without apparent reason resigned as Kazakhstan’s PM, paving the way for Mr Massimov’s.
Mr Massimov had been the longest-serving PM in the history of independent Kazakhstan, from January 2007 to September 2012, before Mr Akhmetov replaced him. After leaving the premiership Mr Massimov had been head of the Presidential Administration, a prestigious post in Kazakhstan.
The speed of the operation showed that a clearly planned script was being followed. Analysts speculated that Mr Massimov may be being groomed for the top job after the long-serving Mr Nazarbayev finally steps down as president.
ENDS
See next week’s issue of The Conway Bulletin for more. For subscription details, click here