Karin Confirms Plans for Unicameral Parliament, Says Senate’s Abolition Not the Goal

Kazakhstan is preparing to transition to a unicameral parliament while maintaining its presidential form of government, State Counselor Yerlan Karin told journalists, Orda.kz reports.

Only select media outlets were invited to the meeting with Karin.

Questions were posed by Qazaqstan, Tizgin.kz, Abay Life, Vlast.kz, and Jibek Joly.

Karin said that members of parliament will be elected through a proportional system, while the majoritarian system will remain only at the local level (maslikhats). The constitutional amendments, he emphasized, are not about abolishing the Senate, but about strengthening the role of parliament.

Certain details remain undecided: the number of deputies and the number of committees have not yet been determined. A working group is currently developing proposals, while Kazakhstan will continue operating under a presidential republic.

We agreed to give the members of the working group a month to prepare their proposals. They must submit them by November 15. The second meeting will take place at the end of November or the beginning of December,
 Karin told Vlast.kz.

Original Author: Zarina Fayzulina