Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev said Monday he is calling for an early presidential election.
Mr. Nazarbayev's decision came just hours after Kazakhstan's constitutional court ruled that a proposed referendum that would extend his rule to 2020 was unconstitutional.
The parliament voted this month to hold a referendum on extending the president's mandate to 2020.
Igor Rogov, the head of the constitutional court, said a referendum would not conform with the constitution.
Mr. Nazarbayev did not say when elections will be held, but they are expected to take place within months.
Mr. Nazarbayev has been Kazakhstan's leader since 1989.