Kazakhstan's new constitution cementing president's grip on power approved in a referendum

A new constitution that strengthens President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s grip on power in Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest country, has won overwhelming approval in a referendum, according to preliminary results released Monday.

The country's Central Election Commission announced that over 87% of respondents in Sunday's vote supported the constitutional changes that merge the Kazakhstani parliament’s two chambers into one and give the president the right to appoint key government officials with parliament’s approval, including the restoration of the ​post of vice president. The turnout exceeded 73%.

The constitutional changes also envisage the creation of a new body, the People’s Council, alongside parliament, empowered to initiate legislation and referendums. Its members will be appointed entirely by the president.

The second constitutional change in four years was initiated by Tokayev, and some observers say it could pave the way for him to retain power after his term expires.

The 72-year-old Tokayev, a former Soviet official and Kazakhstani diplomat who previously served at the U.N., is currently limited to one seven-year term until 2029. Analysts believe Tokayev could use the referendum to reset presidential term limits. Leaders of several former Soviet republics, including Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, have previously used new or amended constitutions to revise statutory term limits.

The new constitution also stipulates that marriage will no longer be a union of two people, but rather a union of a man and a woman. Analysts say this provision was introduced in the new constitution as a follow-up to a law banning what authorities view as “propaganda” of LGBTQ+ relations.

Tokayev, who has maintained a delicate balance between Moscow and the West since the imposition of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, explains the constitutional changes as a response to the need to make quick decisions in a rapidly changing world.

“This step is of exceptional importance, especially in the current period when the geopolitical situation is unstable and challenges and threats to national security are becoming increasingly tangible,” Tokayev said last week.

The opposition in Kazakhstan is not represented in government structures and, in the month since the referendum was announced, has been unable to significantly influence public sentiment.

The vote took place at a difficult time for Kazakhstan, where inflation reached 11.7% in February and tax increases have fueled public discontent.

Analysts say economic problems could trigger a new wave of protests akin to nationwide unrest in 2022, triggered by hikes in fuel prices, in which dozens of protesters and police were killed — something Tokayev is trying to contain by consolidating power in his own hands.

In this photo released by Kazakhstan's President Press Office, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev walks to cast his ballot at a polling station during a referendum on a new constitution, in Astana, Kazakhstan, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (Kazakhstan's President Press Office via AP)

A man poses for a photo as he casts his ballot at a polling station during a referendum on a new constitution, in Astana, Kazakhstan, Sunday, on Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo)

In this photo released by Kazakhstan's President Press Office, a woman casts her ballot at a polling station during a referendum on a new constitution, in Astana, Kazakhstan, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (Kazakhstan's President Press Office via AP)

In this photo released by Kazakhstan's President Press Office, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev casts his ballot at a polling station during a referendum on a new constitution, in Astana, Kazakhstan, Sunday, on Sunday, March 15, 2026. (Kazakhstan's President Press Office via AP)

FILE - Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addresses the plenary session of the Russia–Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum in Uralsk, Kazakhstan, via videoconference during a meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Torey Lovullo has been involved with professional baseball as a player or coach for nearly 40 years. So, when it comes to the unwritten rules of baseball — especially when a pitcher has a perfect game or no-hitter going — the Arizona Diamondbacks manager knows if a line is being crossed.

While some might think Tim Tawa trying to bunt during the sixth inning of Sunday's game while Cleveland's Gavin Williams had a perfect game bid going violated the unwritten codes of the sport, Lovullo said it was a perfectly acceptable decision.

“Not even close for me,” Lovullo said after Cleveland's 5-0 win over Arizona. "I’ve had this discussion with (Cleveland manager) Stephen Vogt before when he was in our dugout as a player. I play it clean and you can do basically anything in between the white lines for six innings. And then after that, you got to be careful. It’s either black or white for me. I don’t like gray stuff.

“Timmy asked if he could bunt. We all checked off on it, said absolutely. And they clearly took exception to that.”

Williams had retired the first 15 Arizona batters he faced, including nine via strikeout.

Tawa took a called strike on the first pitch before fouling back a bunt attempt on the next pitch. After Tawa's bunt hit the screen behind home plate, Cleveland catcher Patrick Bailey and shortstop Brayan Rocchio voiced their displeasure over Tawa's decision.

Tawa then lined the next pitch into right field to give the Diamondbacks’ first baserunner. Rocchio and Tawa exchanged words after Tawa was forced out at second base on a grounder by Ildemaro Vargas. However, Tawa’s hard slide caused Rocchio’s throw to first place for a potential double play go wide.

The chirping between both teams continued though and reached a breaking point with two outs in the sixth, when both benches emptied after crew chief Lance Barksdale called for the grounds crew to put the tarp on due to heavy rain.

Vogt and third-base coach Rouglas Odor charged from the dugout and began exchanging words with Diamondbacks players and coaches. The benches emptied for both teams, but calm was restored a couple minutes later as Vogt and Lovullo talked at home plate.

“I mean, when things happen on the baseball field, tempers can flare sometimes. I was upset just because there were people talking to our players that shouldn’t be,” Vogt said. “When there’s a perfect game going, some people are going to be very upset at that. But again, that wasn’t the crux of my frustration.”

Also adding to the mayhem was the grounds crew trying to get the infield covered.

“I’ve never had a tarp involved in a scrum with another team. It’s a first for me,” Lovullo said. “Through some hard lessons and suspensions and fines, I’ve learned the hard way to deescalate instead of amplify it. And in that case, I felt like that was my job. And I think Vogter and I got together and talked about it. And he saw it the same way I did.”

Williams allowed one hit in 5 2/3 innings with 10 strikeouts and one walk. The right-hander joined Chris Sale and Clayton Kershaw as the only pitchers in MLB history with double-digit strikeouts and one walk or fewer in at least five straight games.

As for Tawa's bunt attempt, it was the least of his worries.

“I don’t really have any reaction. It is what it is. I don’t really care. My job is to get out and that’s what I’m trying to do,” Williams said.

Tawa was in an 0-for-21 skid before getting the hit and said he was trying to do anything he could to snap out of it.

“I understand the unwritten rules of baseball and that’s a thing. And at the same time, I’m just trying to get on base and help the team and gain some momentum,” he said.

Both teams were issued warnings about any retaliation after the hour, 34-minute rain delay. Tawa struck out in the seventh and reached on a fielder's choice in the ninth.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Home plate umpire Jonathan Parra (30) holds back Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, center, between catcher Patrick Bailey, left, and pitcher Gavin Williams (32) during an argument in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Home plate umpire Jonathan Parra (30) holds back Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, center, from Arizona Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas (6) during an argument in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Home plate umpire Jonathan Parra (30) holds back Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, center, between catcher Patrick Bailey, left, and pitcher Gavin Williams (32) during an argument in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Tim Tawa fouls off a bunt attempt in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)