Ashimbayev Responds to Proposal to Abolish Senate

The Speaker of the Senate, Maulen Ashimbayev, commented on President Toqayev’s proposal to abolish the upper chamber of parliament, Orda.kz reports.

Ashimbayev noted that the Senate had played a key role in shaping Kazakhstan’s legal framework, but emphasized that political institutions must evolve with the country.

This will be a new parliament, a new quality. In the new parliament, the powers of the two chambers will be combined, he said.

According to Ashimbayev, a unified legislature would represent "a new parliament, a new quality," combining the powers of both chambers. The number of deputies would also be reviewed.

When asked whether he sees himself in the new body, Ashimbayev replied:

I think that this is a more distant prospect. Right now, it is more important for us to adopt those most important regulatory and legal acts that will further develop our country. I think that it is too early to talk about this now. We must work for at least two more years in this configuration of the Senate, in this configuration of the Majilis. And we must now focus on our current tasks. There will be discussions over the next year, and there will be discussions in parliament. Then it will be put to a national referendum and the population must make the final decision.

Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova