Tokayev to convene first session of Kazakhstan’s Parliament on Aug. 28

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree convening the first session of Kazakhstan’s elected Parliament (Kurultai), the country’s new unicameral legislature, for Aug. 28 at 11 a.m., according to the Akorda press service.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree convening the first session of Kazakhstan’s elected Kurultai on Aug. 28 Photo credit: Akorda The session will mark the start of work for the 145-member Kurultai, established under Kazakhstan’s new Constitution, which took effect on July 1. The first parliamentary election under the new constitutional system was held on Aug. 23.

According to the final results, five political parties cleared the statutory 5% threshold required to secure seats in the Kurultai. The Adilet Party secured the largest share of the vote and will hold 110 seats. The Auyl People’s Democratic Patriotic Party will have 10 seats, while Respublica will hold nine seats.

The Aq Zhol Democratic Party and the Nationwide Social Democratic Party will each have eight seats. The People’s Party of Kazakhstan received 285,395 votes, or 3.11%, while the Baytaq Green Party received 97,751 votes, or 1.07%, falling below the 5% threshold. A total of 2.51% of voters selected the “against all” option.

The Aug. 23 election was the first parliamentary election conducted under Kazakhstan’s new constitutional framework. The Kurultai replaced the country’s former bicameral Parliament and consists of 145 deputies elected through proportional representation from party lists in a single nationwide constituency. The opening of the first session will formally launch the new legislature’s work and mark the next stage in implementing the institutional changes introduced by the new Constitution.

Source: Astana Times