As part of a large-scale political modernization effort, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed a series of fundamental reforms that effectively signal a transition to a new constitutional model. The President emphasized that these changes are designed to strengthen statehood and establish a resilient system defined as: “Strong President – Influential Parliament – Accountable Government.”
Transition to a Unicameral Parliament
The President initiated the transition to a unicameral (single-chamber) Parliament, which will be granted the historic name Kurultai.
The new legislative body will consist of 145 deputies. The internal organization will include no more than eight committees and up to three Deputy Speakers.
To strengthen the role of political parties, deputies will be elected via a proportional representation system. However, the majority system will be preserved at the regional level for maslikhats (local councils).
President Tokayev proposed maintaining the 5% threshold for party entry, as well as existing quotas for women, youth, and persons with special needs. Notably, he proposed the abolition of the presidential quota and the quota for the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan.
Under the new model, the Parliament will gain several exclusive rights, moving away from the current bicameral system (Senate and Mazhilis):
- The right to grant consent for the appointment of members to the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Audit Chamber, and the Central Election Commission (CEC).
- The power to elect all judges of the Supreme Court based on the President’s recommendation.
Establishment of the People’s Council (Halyq Keñesi)
A new institution known as the Halyq Keñesi, or the People’s Council of Kazakhstan, will be established to replace both the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan and the National Kurultai, serving as the nation’s highest consultative body.
The Council will comprise 126 members, with 42 representatives drawn from ethno-cultural associations, another 42 from major public organizations, and the final 42 from regional maslikhats and public councils. All members of this body will be appointed directly by the President.
Significantly, the People’s Council will be granted the right of legislative initiative, and its status will be formally enshrined in the Constitution. Its primary mandate will include managing matters of inter-ethnic harmony, promoting state ideology, and overseeing the organization of religious congresses.
Introduction of the Office of Vice President
President Tokayev also proposed the creation of the post of Vice President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, an official who will be appointed by the Head of State subject to the consent of Parliament.
The introduction of this office is intended to stabilize the administrative process and provide greater clarity to the vertical of power while maintaining a strong presidency.
The Vice President will be tasked with representing the interests of Kazakhstan at international forums and during negotiations with foreign delegations. Additionally, the Vice President will act as the President’s representative in Parliament, coordinate with domestic and international socio-political, scientific, and cultural organizations, and carry out other specific directives issued by the President.
Key Constitutional Changes
In the event of an early termination of the President’s powers, the transition of power will no longer follow the current model of automatically transferring authority to the Speaker of the Senate for the remainder of the term. Instead, the new reforms will mandate that snap elections be held within two months.
To realize these initiatives, President Tokayev announced the formation of a Constitutional Commission, which will be followed by a nationwide referendum.
He called these reforms as a historic step comparable to the adoption of an entirely new Constitution, emphasizing that they are essential for increasing the country’s resilience during this era of global instability.
Commentary: Parallels with the Experience of Turkmenistan
The proposed changes in Kazakhstan bear notable similarities to the political reforms implemented in neighboring Turkmenistan. Specifically, in January 2023, Turkmenistan returned to a unicameral parliament (the Mejlis) by abolishing the upper house, the Halk Maslahaty, as a legislative chamber.
Simultaneously, the country revived a separate supreme representative body of people’s power—the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council). This body was granted the status of the “supreme representative body,” consisting of key officials, regional representatives, public organizations, and appointed members, with broad powers to approve constitutional changes, determine major policy directions, and hear presidential addresses.
The structure and role of the proposed Halyq Keñesi in Kazakhstan—comprising 126 members all appointed by the President, performing consultative functions with the right of legislative initiative, and focusing on inter-ethnic harmony and ideology—largely echo the Turkmen Halk Maslahaty following its 2023 reform as a consultative institution with elements of regional and social representation.
In both countries, the transition to a unicameral parliament is accompanied by the creation of a “people’s council” designed to serve as a stabilizing democratic element within the system while maintaining a strong presidential form of government. ///nCa, 21 January 2026