Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed the creation of a unicameral parliament in the country. Speaking to the nation on Monday at the parliament in Astana, he said the reform would have a “serious positive impact” on the country’s socio-economic development.
According to Tokayev, the Senate, established in 1995 under difficult political conditions, has provided stability in state-building, but the time has come for a new stage.
“I propose the creation of a unicameral parliament in the foreseeable future,” he said, emphasising that the reform requires extensive discussion.
The president added that discussions are expected to last at least a year, with a national referendum potentially held in 2027. He noted that, if consensus is reached, the new parliament should be elected exclusively through party lists.
Currently, Kazakhstan’s parliament consists of two chambers – the Senate and the lower house, the Mazhilis. Between 1993 and 1995, the country had a unicameral Supreme Council.
Nuclear Energy on the Agenda
Tokayev also addressed energy issues, noting that Kazakhstan has begun modernising its energy sources, with nuclear power set to play a central role.
The country’s first nuclear power plant began construction last month in Almaty region, led by an international consortium under Russia’s Rosatom. Tokayev said the project alone is insufficient and that plans are already underway for a second, and even third, plant.
He added that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping recently agreed on a strategic partnership in the nuclear sector.
“Kazakhstan is ready to cooperate with all global companies on a mutually beneficial basis to ensure our energy sovereignty,” he said.
In an October 2024 referendum, around 71% of voters supported the construction of the first nuclear plant. However, the project has raised concerns due to the legacy of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site.
Rosatom announced in August that engineering surveys for the first nuclear plant have begun in the village of Ulken.
Saudi Arabia’s air defences have intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone over the Riyadh region, according to the Saudi-led coalition fight...
Police were deployed across Paris on Saturday, as a curfew was set to take effect in the Republique and Chât...
A drone strike hit a power station in northern Sudan early Sunday (1 November), sparking a fire and triggering loud explosions, witnesses said....
The U.S. has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but Kyiv could face years of delays before receiving the weapons it urgently needs to defend against intensifying Russian attacks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered Iran's armed forces to respond to any threat immediately and without geographical limits in statements posted to social media platforms on Saturday (31 October).
A hacking group linked to North Korea is widely believed to be behind the theft of $6.3 billion from cryptocurrency giant Binance, a cyberattack that experts describe as the largest cryptocurrency heist on record.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education and living costs. Violence erupted in Frankfurt, where shops were looted and police reported Molotov cocktail attacks.
A tenth-grade student was critically injured after a man attacked her with a chainsaw inside a classroom in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district. The girl suffered severe injuries to her head, neck and back, while a classmate who tried to protect her was also hurt.
Police were deployed across Paris on Saturday, as a curfew was set to take effect in the Republique and Châtelet-Les Halles areas from 11pm Saturday until 6am Sunday (1 November).
A drone strike hit a power station in northern Sudan early Sunday (1 November), sparking a fire and triggering loud explosions, witnesses said.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education and living costs. Violence erupted in Frankfurt, where shops were looted and police reported Molotov cocktail attacks.
Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations on Sunday, (1 November), and classified the country's foreign intelligence agency, MI6, as a hostile group, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Thousands protested in Albania's capital, Tirana, on Saturday (31 October), demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation over perceived corruption allegations and dissatisfaction with the government over a lack of jobs and poor education standards.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment