Kazakh Leader to Wipe Out Debt of the Poor, End Bank Rescues
- Tokayev announces plan to write off debts of poor Kazakhs
- Banks should get no more bailouts, president says in interview
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Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said he’ll write off bad loans held by as much as a sixth of the central Asian country’s population, while signaling a sharp change in policy to end costly state bailouts of private banks.
The loan-forgiveness program is Tokayev’s first major policy announcement since he was elected president on June 9 in a choreographed transfer of power that began when longtime leader Nursultan Nazarbayev stepped down as head of state in March. His victory was met with rare and widespread protests.