Tokayev's reforms aim to build collective identity, political scientist says
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Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the recent parliamentary elections mark a new stage of reforms and the formation of a collective national identity. Political scientist Eduard Poletaev said the new unicameral parliament will reduce political risks and consolidate power. The elections saw about 90% new faces among more than 500 party-list candidates.
Key Facts
- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the elections will be remembered as perhaps the most interesting in the country's history.
- Political scientist Eduard Poletaev said the new unicameral parliament will reduce risks of disputes, intrigue and political crises.
- About 10% of the more than 500 party-list candidates are former deputies, meaning around 90% are new faces.
- The new parliament will have three readings of legislation instead of two, increasing its workload.
Election Significance
Tokayev said the elections are a starting point for new reforms and open a new chapter in modern Kazakhstan's history. Poletaev called the elections historic and a vote for the future, reflecting popular support for the president's reform course. He said the new parliament will create conflict-free and effective conditions for lawmaking. No party declared itself an opposition force, and all parties based their programs on the new constitution.
Parliamentary Structure
The unicameral parliament elected by party lists is a simpler model with fewer unpredictabilities, Poletaev said. Deputies are bound by party discipline and nominated by parties, making the legislative process more professional. The new parliament will have three readings of legislation, increasing its workload compared to the previous two-reading system. Previously the Senate could refine legislation, but now all responsibility falls on the new parliament members.
New Faces
The new parliament includes a large number of new faces, with continuity preserved but few former deputies. About 10% of the more than 500 party-list candidates are former deputies, meaning around 90% are new faces. Poletaev said these new people will shape the face of the legislative branch.
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Tokayev's reforms aim to build collective identity, political scientist says
