PResident of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree on the dissolution of the country’s parliament. The elections of the new composition of the lower house of parliament are scheduled for March 19. Tokayev explained the snap elections by the logic of constitutional reform
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
The lower house (Mazhilis) of the Parliament of Kazakhstan and deputies of all regional maslikhats have been dissolved in Kazakhstan. This is stated in the decree, which is published on the website of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
“To appoint early elections of deputies of the Mazhilis for March 19, 2023. <..."This decree is put into effect from the date of publication," the document says.
The date of the election of deputies of local councils will be determined by the CEC of the country.
In a special statement, Tokayev expressed hope that the updated composition of deputies will continue to work in this format and “give a new impetus” to the comprehensive modernization of the country. “The holding of early elections to the Majilis and maslikhats is dictated by the logic of the constitutional reform supported by citizens at a national referendum. According to its results, our country has switched to new, fairer and more competitive rules for the formation of a representative branch of government,” Tokayev said in a statement.
There are 107 deputies in the Mazhilis, 98 of whom were elected by universal suffrage on party lists with a 7% barrier. Nine deputies of the Mazhilis were elected by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, an advisory body under the President of the country.
According to the statement of the Kazakh president, now 70% of the deputies of the Mazhilis will be elected on party lists, and 30% – on single-mandate constituencies. Elections to maslikhats of regions and cities of republican significance will be held according to a mixed electoral system, in a 50-50 ratio, and in elections to maslikhats of districts and cities of regional significancevoters will vote only for candidates in single-mandate constituencies. Such a system, Tokayev said, would protect the interests of voters both at the national and regional levels, provide a “wide range of views in representative authorities” and create favorable conditions for the further development of civil society.
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The President of Kazakhstan recalls that earlier in the country it was decided to introduce the “against all” column in the ballot papers and “with the aim of “democratizing the country” to reduce the electoral threshold from 7 to 5% in the elections to the Majilis. The registration threshold for parties was also reduced four times from 25thousand to 5 thousand members and the minimum number of regional representative offices of parties has been reduced from 600 to 200 people. Another innovation, Tokayev’s statement notes, was the legislative consolidation of a 30% quota for women, youth and persons with special needs in the distribution of deputy mandates.
“All these institutional changes will strengthen political competition, ensure the openness of the political system, and contribute to the emergence of a new cohort of politicians,” the President noted.
“We have entered a new era of Kazakhstan’s development. The country is undergoing a dynamic and comprehensive renewal process. These elections will embody the changes taking place in society and will give a powerful impetus to the further modernization of our political system. <..."The elections to the Majilis and maslikhats will be the final stage of the reboot of state institutions and will fill with real content the formula of a strong president, an influential parliament, an accountable government," Tokayev said in a statement.
Daria Chizhova, director of the Information and Analytical Center for the Study of Socio-Political Processes in the post-Soviet space, told RBC that the re-election of the Majilis will be the last link in the modernization of the political system that Tokayev is conducting.
“At the moment, seven parties have been registered, and, in my opinion, we will observe quite an interesting party struggle. The launched political processes were aimed at diversifying the Majilis, forming a greater representation of various political forces in Kazakhstan in it,” she explained. According to Chizhova, the elections may become the brightest campaign since the departure of Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Political reforms in Kazakhstan were launched after the events of January 2022, when mass protests took place throughout the republic. The actions were initially caused by a sharp rise in gas prices, later the demonstrations turned into riots, the protesters demanded the resignation of the government and political reforms. As a result of riots and street confrontation, 230 people were killed, of which 19 were military and security forces.
In October 2022, Tokayev announced the end of the era of “oligarchic capitalism” in the country and the onset of a period of social responsibility of the state to the citizens of the country. In September, the Constitution of Kazakhstan was amended, after which Tokayev announced early presidential elections. According to the new version of the Basic Law, the term of office has been increased from five to seven years, re-election is prohibited.
After winning the elections in November 2022 with 82.45% of the vote, Tokayev promised to carry out fundamental reforms in the country’s economy. He also touched upon the constitutional reform, announcing that Kazakhstan is moving to a new form of political structure.
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