Kazakhstan president proposes a unicameral parliament and pushes ahead with nuclear power plans

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.

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