Kazakhstan's historic Parliament election on Sunday

Central Asian emerging economy Kazakhstan is set to go its Parliament (Kurultai) election on Sunday (23 August).

Voters in Kazakhstan choose all 145 seats of the Kurultai on Sunday, filling the single-chamber legislature that replaced the country's two houses of parliament and completing an institutional change written into a constitution that took effect seven weeks ago.

Every seat is contested in one nationwide district under closed-list proportional representation, with a threshold of 5 percent of valid votes. Deputies serve five years.

This is the first national vote under the new constitutional order, and the first in which every seat in the legislature is filled by election.

The old Parliament paired an elected lower house, the Mazhilis, with a Senate of 50 members, 10 of them named by the president. Neither chamber exists now, and the Kurultai has no appointed seats.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called Kazakhstan’s first elections to the new unicameral Kurultai a historic event and urged citizens, notably young people, to take part in the Aug. 23 vote.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addresses the nation ahead of Kazakhstan’s first Kurultai elections on Aug. 23. Photo credit: Akorda. In an address to the nation on Aug. 21, Tokayev described the campaign as substantive, open and competitive, highlighting televised debates, meetings with voters, media coverage and discussions on social networks as platforms for parties to present their programs, reported Akorda.

“Without a doubt, these elections will be remembered as perhaps the most interesting in the history of our country,” Tokayev said. New faces and ideas President Tokayev noted the emergence of new political figures and ideas during the campaign, as well as the active participation of young people, professionals and entrepreneurs. He linked this engagement to Kazakhstan’s ongoing reforms to strengthen political culture and expand citizens’ participation in public administration.

Tokayev also said the campaign demonstrated a shift in the public agenda toward ideas of development and progress. New stage of reforms According to Tokayev, the Kurultai elections will mark a new stage of reforms following the entry into force of the new Constitution.

Tokayev said the new legislative body would play an important role in the country’s future development. “The new legislative body should become a common platform for constructive views and aspirations. The Kurultai will set a high pace for the further modernization of the country,” he said.

President Tokayev also expressed confidence that the new legislature would include professionals and patriots committed to the country’s development. Focus on participation Tokayev said domestic and international observers monitored the election campaign and will also work at polling stations on election day.

Against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions and growing global challenges, Tokayev said Kazakhstan faces complex tasks in its efforts to become a developed state. He described participation in the election as an important expression of civic responsibility and called on citizens, especially young people, to vote on Aug. 23.

Source: Astana Times