Kazakhstan adopts unicameral parliament in sweeping governance reform

Kazakhstan is implementing a major overhaul of its political system, moving from a bicameral legislature to a single‑chamber parliament called the Kurultai. The reform, rooted in the 2022 constitutional referendum, aims to curb the super‑presidential model that existed under former long‑time leader Nursultan Nazarbayev and to decentralise executive power. President Kassym‑Jomart Tokayev, who succeeded Nazarbayev in 2019, has pushed the changes after the January 2022 Qantar protests, which highlighted public demand for greater accountability.

The new Kurultai will consist of 145 members elected through proportional party‑list voting for five‑year terms, replacing the Mazhilis and Senate. Officials say the unicameral structure will eliminate legislative veto points, speed up law‑making and provide clearer regulatory predictability. Kazakhstan’s reforms are being watched closely by regional powers such as China, Russia, the United States and the European Union, given the country’s strategic position and its role as Central Asia’s largest economy and a key energy supplier.