Kazakhstan elects 145-seat unicameral Kurultai under revised constitution

Legislative overhaul and the new Kurultai

Voters across Kazakhstan are heading to the polls on Sunday to elect members of a newly established unicameral parliament. The electoral process follows an extensive constitutional reform approved in March, which formally eliminated the previous bicameral legislative structure. Under the new constitutional framework, the two former legislative chambers have been consolidated into a single assembly known as the Kurultai. The new single-chamber body comprises 145 deputies, all of whom are being selected in this vote. Official voter estimates for the national election range from 12.6 million to nearly 13 million eligible citizens across the Central Asian nation. This election represents the first time that Kazakh citizens are voting for representatives in the newly formed unicameral legislature following the dissolution of the two-house parliamentary format.

Party participation and Tokayev's administration

A total of seven political parties have been authorized by authorities to contest the 145 legislative seats. Among the permitted political groups is Adilet, a newly formed party organized to consolidate political support around President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Tokayev originally assumed the presidency in 2019 following the resignation and abdication of long-time leader Nursultan Nazarbayev. Months after taking office, Tokayev secured formal legitimacy through a presidential election, succeeding the leadership structure that had dominated the country since the Soviet era. In 2022, following another round of constitutional amendments, voters confirmed Tokayev in office for a renewed term. Despite official declarations that the reforms aim to democratize the political system, the political environment in the authoritarian former Soviet republic remains tightly controlled under Tokayev's presidency.

Human rights concerns and suppression of dissent

The constitutional changes preceding Sunday's parliamentary vote have drawn formal criticism from international rights groups, including Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch warned that the structural reforms could result in severe restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of association, and freedom of peaceful assembly. Ahead of the constitutional referendum that established the new legislature, domestic authorities moved to suppress public criticism. Individuals who voiced opposing viewpoints or criticized the proposed changes on online social networks were systematically summoned by police forces or placed under temporary detention. In addition to policing digital commentary, the government has maintained tight public security since the anti-government protests of 2022, when mass demonstrations across the country were met with violent suppression by state security forces.

Regional energy power and strategic context

Kazakhstan represents the largest economy in Central Asia and holds vast reserves of oil and natural gas, establishing the country as the region's leading energy producer. Geographically positioned between Russia and China, the nation maintains vital trade and diplomatic links with both neighboring global powers. In domestic politics, hopes for democratic opening that emerged when Tokayev took power in 2019 have not materialized, as political competition remains locked. Sunday's legislative ballot completes the institutional transition toward the 145-seat unicameral Kurultai, putting into full effect the governance changes enacted during the March constitutional overhaul while leaving executive power firmly concentrated under the presidency.