by Galiya Khassenkhanova
It’s published
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed switching from a two-room congressional system to a one-room system by eliminating the Senate.
“This reform of this highest representative will be a logical continuation of all previous reforms, including reforms of the presidential forces,” he said.
The proposal was expressed in Tokayev’s annual cutting-edge speech. This outlined the main issues and tasks that the Kazakh government needs to tackle until next September.
The president proposed that it would take a year to discuss the shift and resolve various details. The country should then hold a national referendum to vote for the proposed changes in 2027.
“I have said many times that all issues of importance to the nation can only be resolved by the consent of the people,” he emphasized.
Tokayev added that the composition of the new parliament should be elected based solely on the party list.
What does this mean for the country?
Currently, Kazakhstan’s parliament has two rooms. The one below is called the Magiclis, and the one above is the Senate.
Both rooms held SNAP elections in 2023 following the 2022 referendum, reducing the number of lawmakers in each room. If a new referendum passes, Kazakhstan must hold parliamentary elections again.
The proposed changes to Kazakhstan’s parliamentary system could possibly promote the legislation process and could prove to be equally economic. But primarily, it means a change in power dynamics.
In Kazakhstan, the current order to succeed if the president is not present or unable to serve is the Senate Speaker, the chairman of Magilis and the prime minister. One House Council will shorten this pool.
Political analyst Dosym Satpayev believes the decision is intended to prepare the basis for the next president.
“Tokayev’s current proposal is not intended to democratize the parliamentary system itself, but rather, perhaps as a preparation for a new power transfer of power that automatically increases constitutional status on the list of those who stand behind the president,” he said.
For some, part of the announcement was a decision to use a party list to determine the composition of the parliament. That is, there are no individual candidates.
Experts say this effectively puts all the power in one party’s hands. The issue here is the comprehensive control of the Amanath Party, the party that consistently won the most votes in all elections.
Former Presidents Nasultan Nazarbayev and President Tokayev were leaders of the party. However, after the 2022 referendum, the president is no longer permitted to become a party member while fulfilling his duties.
Nevertheless, elections based on party lists are merely propositions, and individual candidates may still retain their choice. This is a twist that the Kazakh government must resolve the next year.
What else did Tokaev outline?
In his broad speech, Tokayev announced the creation of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, highlighting the need to integrate AI into all economic sectors.
He appointed the government by rethinking its investment policy to shift its focus from raw materials to manufacturing, while improving adjustments to attract foreign capital.
The Illegal Asset Repayment Committee has been renamed the Committee to Protect Investor Rights. Tokayev recovered 850 billion tenge (1.4 billion euros) and reinvested its schools, hospitals and key infrastructure.
Financial reform will also become a priority. By the end of 2025, new banking laws need to be adopted to expand competition, attract new players and develop digital assets.
Tokayev called for the expansion of digital tenge and proposed establishing a state fund for digital assets to build a strategic reserve of cryptocurrency and blockchain-based equipment.
The joint government and state bank measures will also focus on adjusting for high inflation that undermine income growth.
Kazakhstan has also planned a major overhaul of the agricultural sector, highlighting the reduction in efficiency, innovation and import dependence
Transport and logistics continue to be central to Kazakhstan’s transportation ambitions. With over a billion tonnes of cargo moving each year, Tokayev called for the integration of the corridors of north-south, east-west and transcaspians, wider use of digital platforms, and more powerful container delivery.
The President ordered the government to grant special status to the newly formed city of Aratau. It will become Central Asia’s first digital city, harnessing smart urban technology that allows payments for goods and services with cryptocurrencies.
Finally, Tokayev highlighted the acceleration of the construction of second and third nuclear power plants to ensure modernisation of the energy sector, particularly long-term sustainability.
