Tokayev Lays out a New Roadmap for Kazakhstan

On January 20, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered a landmark speech at the National Kurultai, a consultative assembly of politicians and selected members of civil society, held in the southern city of Kyzylorda.

Tokayev spoke for over an hour on a wide range of issues, from the importance of marriage to the future establishment of the figure of vice-president.

Here is a run down of his main points regarding the country’s institutional architecture.

– As Kazakhstan switches to a unicameral parliament, the new assembly will be called Kurultai, replacing Majilis, the current name.

– The new Parliament will be composed of 145 deputies, elected via proportional representation.

– The new Parliament will approve the appointment of members of the Constitutional Court, the Central Election Commission, and the Supreme Audit Chamber, as well as Supreme Court judges. Nominations for these positions will be made by the President.

– A new institutional role, the vice-president, may be introduced and enshrined in the Constitution. Appointed by the president, the vice-president “will represent Kazakhstan’s interests at international forums and negotiations with delegations from foreign countries, represent the president’s interests in Parliament,” among other responsibilities.

– The structure and responsibilities of the Presidential Administration will also be reformed.

– In the event of an early termination of the president’s term, early presidential elections would be held within two months–not, as previously provided, until the end of the mandate.

– Given that both the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan and the National Kurultai have “fulfilled their mission,” they will be abolished and substituted with a People’s Council (Halyk Kenesi) which will serve as the country’s main advisory body. The new Council will include representatives from all ethnic groups and regions. These changes will also entail constitutional amendments.

– In order to amend the Constitution, a 100-member Constitutional Commission will be established. Membership will be varied: “members of the National Kurultai, heads of news agencies, lawyers, and many others.” The Commission will eventually set a date for the referendum.

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