Kazakhstan’s New Parliament: The Qurultai

A Historic Day in Astana

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev cast his ballot at Astana's Palace of Independence shortly after polls opened, and the moment set the tone for the day. Speaking to reporters afterward, he was unambiguous about the stakes.

Addressing journalists, the President emphasized the special significance of the elections to the Kurultai, noting that they open a new stage of large-scale transformations.

"Today is truly a historic day for our country. For the first time, we are holding elections to a unicameral Kurultai. This is an important historic event. United as a single nation, we are carrying out large-scale reforms. All of you know this well and are witnesses to the transformations taking place. We have managed to achieve significant results. At the same time, a great deal of work still lies ahead, and the goals set before us are of particular importance. Today's elections are only the beginning of this major work," Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized.

"Undoubtedly, today is a truly historic day for our country. For the first time, we are holding elections to the unicameral Qurultay. This is an important milestone. United as one nation, we are carrying out large-scale reforms."
— President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, 23 August 2026

His words captured what made the day genuinely significant. This was not simply another parliamentary cycle; it was the first electoral test of an entirely new constitutional order, and — as Tokayev himself predicted in the days before the vote — it will likely be remembered as one of the most consequential elections in Kazakhstan's independent history.

Turnout told its own story about civic engagement: 9,351,539 of 12,623,289 registered voters cast ballots, a turnout of 74.08%, the highest recorded in a Kazakhstani national vote since the 2026 constitutional referendum and the highest for a legislative election since 2016. Polling stations across the country combined solemn civic ritual with a genuinely festive atmosphere — national music, family outings, and interactive zones for children — while accessibility measures, including Braille-compatible audio stencils and AI-assisted digital services from the Central Election Commission, ensured the vote was inclusive for citizens of every generation and ability.

The Road to Reform

To understand why the Qurultay matters, it helps to trace the reform journey that produced it. Kazakhstan's transformation did not happen overnight — it is the product of a deliberate, multi-year process of institutional modernization that President Tokayev has pursued since taking office.

From 'New Kazakhstan' to a New Constitution

We are facing a new Kazakhstan. A new Parliament, industrial investments, a rail corridor between China and Europe, projects in uranium and renewable energy: Kazakhstan is launching a new chapter in its development.
A 1 GW wind farm set to rise in the southeast of the country. Fifty million euros invested by Alstom to develop its rail maintenance network. A new Orano facility intended to extend the operation of one of the world's leading uranium sites, according to Ray, E. (2026, August 19).

The foundations were laid back in 2022, when Tokayev launched the reform program “New Kazakhstan: The Path of Renewal and Modernization,” culminating in a constitutional referendum that reduced the concentration of presidential power, strengthened parliament, limited presidential terms and expanded space for independent candidates. That reform proved to be only the first chapter.

In his September 2025 Address to the People of Kazakhstan, President Tokayev proposed the boldest step yet: merging the country's bicameral Parliament — the Mazhilis and the Senate — into a single unicameral chamber. He was careful to stress that a change of this magnitude deserved rigorous deliberation, initially suggesting a nationwide referendum could come as late as 2027. What followed was a remarkably fast yet consultative process: a working group on parliamentary reform was established within a month, and over the following months it reviewed more than 2,000 proposals submitted by ordinary citizens and experts.

By January 2026, discussions had broadened well beyond parliamentary structure alone, evolving into a full-scale rewrite of the Basic Law. A 130-member Constitutional Commission — drawing on legal experts, members of the National Kurultai, regional public councils, media leaders and academics — produced a draft that was published for nationwide discussion on 31 January 2026.

Referandum

On 15 March 2026, Kazakhstanis were asked directly: did they accept the new Constitution? The answer was decisive — 87.15% voted in favor, on a turnout of 73.12%, the highest for any national referendum since 1995. The new Basic Law rewrote roughly 84% of the previous 1995 Constitution and introduced 95 articles, including the replacement of the bicameral Parliament with the unicameral Qurultai, the reintroduction of the office of Vice President, a firmer constitutional separation of religion and state, and expanded guarantees around human, digital and environmental rights.

“A single parliamentary chamber can simplify legislative procedures, reduce institutional duplication and contribute to more timely decision-making. These qualities may be particularly valuable for a country navigating rapid economic, technological and geopolitical change” according to Yama, PhD from the Institute of Asian Studies at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

The Kurultai will have the opportunity to provide legislative support for the country’s key development priorities, including the modernization of the energy sector, transport and public utility infrastructure, improvements in budgetary policy, regional development, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, digital transformation of the economy, industrial processing, the agro-industrial sector, logistics, and projects related to critical minerals according to The News Site.

Among the first major decisions expected under the new system is the appointment of a vice-president (after three decades) — a post Kazakhstan scrapped back in 1996 and has now brought back under the new Constitution.

The vice-president will be appointed by the president, subject to the Kurultai's approval. Speaking to journalists after casting his vote on Sunday, Tokayev said he expects to name his pick within seven to ten days according to Aznews.

The revival of the position has also sparked speculation about the part it might play in any future transfer of power, adding a new senior figure to Kazakhstan's political landscape at a moment when questions still linger over the country's next presidential election.

The new Constitution formally entered into force on 1 July 2026. On that same day, President Tokayev signed the decree calling the first-ever Qurultai elections — setting the stage for the 23 August vote.

What Is the Qurultay — and Why the Name Matters?

As noted above, the creation of the Kurultai represents a continuation of the reform cycle launched in recent years by the President of Kazakhstan. During the meeting between European Union leaders and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Brussels in June 2026, the EU acknowledged the adoption of the new Constitution and the ongoing implementation of the reform agenda. Yet perhaps the most tangible and easily measurable changes can be seen elsewhere: in the economy. In June 2026, EU-Kazakhstan cooperation notably resulted in a €150 million financing agreement from the European Investment Bank to improve Kazakhstan's transport connections.

For Washington policymakers, the reforms can usher in the formation of a more structured and predictable political and legal environment, which is important for long‑term economic and strategic cooperation. In this respect, the constitutional changes open up a new window of opportunity for the Trump administration, one that can enable the intensification of an already deepening dialogue across a variety of topics according to eurasianet.

In the run-up to the August 23 election, Kazakhstan's leadership was primarily focused on reshaping the country's constitutional architecture. With that phase now behind them, attention is shifting to the newly formed legislative body and, more importantly, to what it will actually deliver.

The new Kurultai will be expected to tackle a set of issues that matter directly to investors and international partners alike. Chief among them is the quality of legislation itself — ensuring laws are clear, consistent, and enforceable rather than symbolic. Equally pressing is the reliability of investment protection, a long-standing concern for foreign businesses weighing exposure to the Kazakh market. Beyond that, lawmakers will need to focus on fostering genuine business development, improving the effectiveness of public administration, strengthening infrastructure policy, and advancing broader economic modernization — all areas seen as critical tests of whether the country's institutional overhaul translates into tangible results on the ground.

Kazakhstan recorded 6.5% economic growth in 2025, its highest rate since 2011 according to the World Bank. This acceleration was supported by increased oil production, but it cannot be reduced to that factor alone. Manufacturing output grew by 6.4% over the year, while the services sector expanded by 5.5%. For Astana, the challenge is to transform its vast natural resource wealth into a driver of industrialization rather than remaining predominantly dependent on raw-material exports, as highlighted in an article published by Opinion Internationale.

The choice of name is itself a statement of national identity. “Qurultay” (also transliterated Kurultai) evokes the historic assemblies of the Turkic and Mongol steppe, where khans, elders and clan representatives gathered to deliberate on matters of stat...