Exit stage left for Nazarbayev

Kazakhstan's president departs after decades of tight control. Could it kickstart a privatisation push?

Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan's first and only leader since independence, agreed in mid-March to relinquish the presidency after almost 30 years at the helm of Central Asia's largest economy, while retaining a title of "leader of the nation". In a move than surprised regional analysts, the Kazakh strongman resigned saying he wanted to "support the coming to power of a new generation of leaders, who will continue the transformations taking place in the country". The powers that Nazarbayev will retain, however, has led to scepticism he will fully step back from politics. In 2017, he was awarded lifelong chairmanship of the Security Council, which allows him to dismiss government functionari