ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s citizens will elect the members of the Kurultai, a new unicameral Parliament, on Aug. 23, putting a redesigned parliamentary and electoral system into practice for the first time. Beyond determining who receives the 145 seats, the vote will offer an early indication of how the new rules affect party competition, political representation and the composition of the legislature.
Kazakhstan’s new constitutional framework took effect on July 1, replacing the former bicameral Parliament, consisting of the Mazhilis (lower house) and Senate (upper house), with a 145-member Kurultai elected for five years through proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency.
Parties must receive at least 5% of the vote to enter the legislature. Seven political parties are contesting the election, with 545 candidates registered for the race. According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), women, young people and persons with disabilities account for a combined 43.9% of registered candidates, exceeding the 30% cumulative quota required for these groups on party lists.
One of the changes is the disappearance of single-member constituencies from national parliamentary elections. Under the previous system, legislation passed through the Mazhilis before moving to the Senate. Under the new model, the Kurultai concentrates legislative consideration, and adopted laws are then sent to the President.
Standing committees will take on a larger role in the process. The Kurultai can establish up to eight permanent committees to conduct preliminary reviews of legislation and other parliamentary work. The new framework also formally defines the parliamentary majority and opposition, with opposition representatives guaranteed certain roles in committee leadership, parliamentary hearings and government question sessions.
The election will also mark a transition for the executive branch. After the new Kurultai is elected, the government must formally submit its resignation. The President then has 10 days to decide whether to accept it. Rassul Kospanov. Photo credit: National Analytical Center Speaking to The Astana Times, Rassul Kospanov, a senior researcher at the Center for Regional Analysis at the National Analytical Center, said concentrating legislative authority in one chamber could also increase the prominence of its chairperson.
“I think the role of the speaker will become stronger. Previously, the highest legislative authority was divided between two chambers, and that influence was also divided between two speakers; now, in effect, there will be one much more powerful speaker. Much will depend on who takes the position and whether that person can become a trusted and prominent figure for the public,” he said.
The electoral system has changed just as significantly. In the previous Mazhilis, 69 of 98 deputies were elected through party lists and 29 through single-member constituencies. All 145 Kurultai members will now be elected through closed party lists in one nationwide constituency, meaning voters choose a party rather than individual candidates within its list.