On 12 October, the Parliament approved Tokayev's nomination to the post of the PM.

[1] On 20 November 2001, Tokayev threatened to resign if Nazarbayev would not dismiss several government officials who formed Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (QDT) as he accused of them of working for the "outsiders", which sparked a political crisis.

[2] In December 2001, Nazarbayev removed several cabinet members such as Deputy Prime Minister Oraz Jandosov and Deputy Defense Minister Jannat Ertlesova.

On 28 January 2002, Tokayev himself resigned stating that "it was time for new people with new ideas" without further explanations.

[3] That same day, he was appointed as the State Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister, while his successor, Imangali Tasmagambetov, became the new PM.