MOSCOW – The president of Kazakhstan on Monday fired his Cabinet after criticizing its performance.

A decree released by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s office said he had accepted the resignation of the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov. He named Smailov’s deputy, Roman Sklyar, as the acting premier. The president ordered Cabinet members to continue exercising their duties pending the approval of a new Cabinet.

The decree didn’t explain the reason for the Cabinet’s resignation, but Tokayev had criticized the ministers last year and said the Cabinet was responsible for the failure to stem inflation and improve the country’s aging infrastructure.