Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a fundamentally changed electoral system based entirely on party lists.
The Constitution was approved in a nationwide referendum on 15 March and came into force on 1 July, reshaping Kazakhstan’s legislature. The former bicameral parliament, made up of the Senate and the 98-seat Mazhilis, has been replaced by the Kurultai, a single chamber with 145 deputies.
For voters, however, the most consequential change is not the name of the legislature or the number of seats, but the way those seats will be won. All 145 deputies will be elected exclusively through party lists. Single-member constituencies have been abolished, meaning candidates can enter the Kurultai only through a political party.
Seven registered political parties are taking part in the election: Auyl, Aq Zhol, the People’s Party of Kazakhstan, the Nationwide Social Democratic Party, Baitaq, Respublica and Adilet.
Together, they have nominated 545 candidates, including 172 women, with an average age of 45.4.
The election also comes as Kazakhstan’s party landscape undergoes major change. The main newcomer is Adilet, whose founding congress was held in May before the party secured registration in June. It became the first political party in the country to be registered in three years.
Adilet says it supports the president’s reforms. It is chaired by Aibek Dadebay, a former head of the Presidential Administration, while its leadership includes representatives from government, business and civil society.
A significant development followed just two weeks after Adilet’s registration. AMANAT, formerly known as Nur Otan, decided to merge with the newly registered party.
The decision brought an end to a political organisation that had been a major presence in Kazakhstan’s political landscape for decades and positioned Adilet as one of the central participants in the inaugural Kurultai election.
The vote will take place under international observation. According to Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission, 777 international observers have been accredited, including 160 representatives from 42 foreign countries and 617 from 13 international organisations.
Voters will be able to support one of the seven parties or select the “against all” option.
Read more:
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for nuclear concessions...
Kazakhstan and Germany have agreed to expand cooperation in critical minerals, industry, energy and transport, with Astana seeking a greater German...
Global cholera deaths reached their highest annual level in more than 20 years in 2025, despite a decline in reported cases, according to the World...
A Russian guided aerial bomb has struck an apartment building in Kharkiv, injuring 22 people, including children, according to the city’s mayor. The strike follows a day of near-continuous Russian attacks across Ukraine that killed at least five people.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 28 September 2026. These are the top stories making headlines in technology.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has arrived in Washington for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on bilateral ties and key regional and international developments, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
The European Union's decision to simultaneously advance accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and Albania marks its most ambitious enlargement effort in more than two decades.
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for nuclear concessions.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declared that Brexit has done more harm than good, while reaffirming support for Ukraine and NATO as he used his first Labour conference speech as leader to set out a new direction for Britain.
The arrival in South Korea of two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia has created a rare legal, diplomatic and humanitarian case, raising questions over their status, security and future.
At midnight on 30 September, the last U.S. troops are due to leave Iraq, ending a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion and cost the lives of around 4,500 American service members.
Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 29 September 2026, with the latest from Azerbaijan, from $10.8 billion in investment deals and Formula 1 drama to diplomacy and preparations for major FIFA tournaments.
Crude oil exports from major Middle Eastern producers rebounded in September to their highest level since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began in late February, according to data from analytics firm Kpler.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment