Kazakhstan's long-serving President Nursultan Nazarbayev has announced his plans to seek re-election at early presidential polls due on April 3.
Nazarbayev's candidacy was approved at the session of Kazakhstan's ruling Nur Otan party on Friday.
"Today at this session I give my consent to stand as candidate at the forthcoming elections," Nazarbayev told the party's session.
"I consider the decision to nominate me for presidency as support for my policies and I am sure that together we will win," the president said, promising to modernize the country's political system.
The reforms announced by Nazarbayev include extending the powers of the parliament and government, as well as strengthening the role of political parties, legislative and judicial bodies.
"We will do our best to ensure that these elections are free and fair," he said.
The 70-year-old Kazakh leader also said he will continue working for the good of the nation as long as his health allows.
Nazarbayev, who has ruled the country since the breakup of the Soviet Union, proposed last week the holding of early presidential polls instead of those scheduled for 2012.
The move came after he rejected a referendum prolonging the president's term until 2020 following the ruling by the country's Constitutional Council that said the proposed referendum was unlawful and would run against the country's constitution.
Nomination of presidential candidates kicked off in the Central Asian country on Saturday and will end on February 20. So far, a total of four candidates have filed their nomination papers. The registration period will last until March 3.
ASTANA, February 11 (RIA Novosti)
