Hudson Institute's Moriyasu sees Kazakhstan's unicameral shift as positive step
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Hudson Institute senior fellow Ken Moriyasu called Kazakhstan's move to a unicameral parliament a positive step to speed decision-making. He spoke on the sidelines of a roundtable on Kazakhstan and the new Eurasian landscape. His comments come as Kazakhstan prepares for upcoming Kurultai elections.
Key Facts
- Ken Moriyasu, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, called the transition to a unicameral parliament a positive step to accelerate decision-making.
- Moriyasu said Kazakhstan seeks a balance between democratic aspirations and ensuring reforms serve national interests and strengthen international standing.
- Professor Glenn Agung Hole of the University of South-Eastern Norway said the upcoming Kurultai elections lay a foundation for further development and stronger institutions.
- Pakistan TV correspondent Musharaf Zahur said institutionalizing Kazakhstan's international agreements will be one of the tasks of the new Kurultai.
Expert Assessments
Ken Moriyasu, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, described the shift from a bicameral to a unicameral parliament as an attempt to reform the political system and accelerate decision-making. He made the remarks on the sidelines of a roundtable titled "Kazakhstan and the New Eurasian Landscape: Strategic Partnerships, Interconnectedness and Economic Opportunities." Moriyasu said Kazakhstan is trying to balance its desire to become more democratic with the need to ensure reforms serve the interests of the Kazakh people and strengthen the country's international position. Professor Glenn Agung Hole of the University of South-Eastern Norway said Kazakhstan is doing much that has been lost in the Western world, particularly in Europe, by focusing on building strong institutions.
Kurultai Elections
Professor Hole said the upcoming Kurultai elections lay a foundation for further development and could create more opportunities for democratic participation by citizens. He noted that the changes involve a division of presidential powers between two roles, which he hopes will strengthen state institutions and democracy in the long term. Pakistan TV correspondent Musharaf Zahur, who visited Kazakhstan ahead of the vote, said the new parliament will have to work with the country's existing system of international relations and agreements with foreign states. Zahur emphasized that Kazakhstan occupies an important place in the Eurasian region, and institutionalizing its international agreements will be one of the tasks of the new Kurultai.
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Hudson Institute's Moriyasu sees Kazakhstan's unicameral shift as positive step
