Voters across Kazakhstan went to the polls on August 23 for a snap parliamentary election to fill 145 seats in the country’s new single-chamber legislature, the Kurultai. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for the election following constitutional amendments that replaced the nation’s previous bicameral system.
The reforms, which came into effect on July 1, consolidated the former two-house parliament, consisting of the Mazhilis and the Senate, into the unicameral Kurultai. According to the state-run Astana Times, legislation under the new model will be considered by the Kurultai and then sent directly to the president for approval.
Seven political parties registered to compete in the election. To secure representation in the new legislature, parties are required to obtain at least 5% of the total vote. The competing parties include Adilet, Auyl, Aq Jol, the People’s Party of Kazakhstan, the Nationwide Social Democratic Party, Baytaq, and Respublica.
The Adilet party was formed in June following a vote by the long-dominant Amanat party to dissolve and merge into the new entity, which is led by senior aides to President Tokayev. Amanat, previously known by other names, was the party of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who led the country from 1991 to 2019. Campaign materials for Adilet have promoted a “Just Kazakhstan” platform focused on raising household incomes and improving public services.
Other parties have campaigned on different platforms. The Aq Jol Democratic Party has focused on supporting entrepreneurship, the Auyl party on strengthening rural communities, and the Baytaq Green Party on environmental issues.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly announced it would deploy nearly 80 parliamentarians and staff from approximately 30 countries to observe the election process.
The election takes place amid broader domestic and foreign policy initiatives. In 2022, Tokayev introduced a package of reforms titled “New Kazakhstan,” which included the recent legislative changes. The constitutional amendments also established a single, seven-year term for presidents. Under the new rules, Tokayev’s previous terms do not count toward this limit, allowing him to run for office again when his current term ends. He won the 2022 presidential election with a reported 80% of the vote.
Kazakhstan, a major oil producer, has also continued to manage its relationships with global powers, including Russia, China, the United States, and the European Union. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Kazakhstan signed a $4.2 billion agreement in November with U.S. manufacturer Wabtec for locomotive kits for its national rail company.
The Bureau of National Statistics reported that Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 6.5% in 2025 to approximately $335 billion.
