Kazakhstan Elects New Unicameral Parliament Under Tokayev Reforms

Voters in Kazakhstan went to the polls on August 23, 2026, to elect the Kurultai, a new single-chamber parliament. The body consists of 145 members serving five-year terms, elected via a single nationwide district. Seven political parties, including Adilet and the Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan, contested the seats.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev initiated this transition through a July 1 decree, replacing the previous bicameral system of the Senate and Mazhilis. These reforms follow a March referendum that established a vice presidency and earlier 2022 constitutional changes enacted after deadly riots. While 2022 rules limited the presidency to one seven-year term, the Constitutional Court of Kazakhstan recently ruled that Tokayev is eligible to seek another term beyond 2029 because the latest reforms reset the election count.

Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Isetov stated the new political architecture is intended to strengthen national stability. He noted that the international system is becoming increasingly complex and that the state must adapt to rising geopolitical tensions and intensifying competition for investment and transport routes.