Speaking about the proposals of the working group on reforming the parliament, the president suggested naming the new parliament "Kurultai." He noted that the historical significance of this term is close and understandable to the people of Kazakhstan.
Tokayev also stated that the number of mandates in the new parliament should be 145, and the term of office for deputies should be 5 years. Elections will be held under a proportional system, while the regional maslikhats will retain a majoritarian system.
According to him, the updated parliament may have up to three chairpersons and no more than eight committees.
Additionally, the president proposed to abolish the presidential quota and the quota of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, while maintaining quotas for women, youth, and people with disabilities.
Tokayev also emphasized the need to empower the future unicameral parliament with new powers regarding personnel appointments. He explained that, according to the current Constitution, the powers to form the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Audit Chamber, and the Central Election Commission are distributed among the Mazhilis, the Senate, and the president. However, it is now planned that the appointment of all members of these significant state structures will occur only with the consent of the parliament. Furthermore, deputies of the highest representative body of the country should have the right to elect all judges of the Supreme Court upon the president's recommendation.
Earlier, in his Address to the People of Kazakhstan, Tokayev spoke about the intention to create a unicameral parliament in the "near future" and proposed to put this issue to a referendum. A working group led by State Advisor Erlan Karin was formed to develop proposals for the reforms.
