ASTANA, Kazakhstan, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev hurried Tuesday to name a replacement candidate for prime minister in Astana a day after a surprise resignation.
Without giving reasons, Prime Minister Danial Akhmetov resigned Monday after 3 1/2 years in office, and under Kazakhstan law, a premier's departure requires the resignation of the entire government.
Tuesday, Nazarbayev nominated 41-year-old Deputy Prime Minister Karim Masimov as a replacement, and both houses of parliament scheduled a Wednesday session to discuss the nomination, the Novosti news agency reported.
In the early 2000s, Masimov served as the economics minister and the transportation and communications minister and became a deputy premiere a year ago. He is considered to be an influential figure close to Nazarbayev, the report said.
