Kazakhstan’s Two-Chamber Parliament To Meet One Last Time Before Abolition

A joint session of Kazakhstan’s two parliamentary chambers will be held on June 30, Orda.kz reports.

Mazhilis Chairman Yerlan Koshanov signed the order convening the meeting.

The session will be one of the last in the current format before Kazakhstan’s new Constitution comes into force on July 1.

Under the new system, the current two-chamber parliament — the Mazhilis and the Senate — will be replaced by a unicameral legislature called the Kurultai.

The Kurultai will consist of 145 deputies elected for five-year terms. Members of the new body will be elected only through party lists.

The Kurultai will be headed by a chairperson, elected by deputies by secret ballot. By law, candidates for the post must be fluent in the state language.

Another major change is the creation of the post of vice president. The president will appoint the vice president, define their functions, and may delegate some duties to them, including interaction with state bodies or representing Kazakhstan externally.

Original author: Eva Golovintseva

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