BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 21. The elections to Kazakhstan's new Kurultai will open a new chapter in the country's history, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.
According to the Kazakh president's press service, Tokayev made the remarks in an address to the nation ahead of the first elections to the new unicameral Kurultai.
"With the entry into force of the People's Constitution, these elections will mark the starting point for new reforms for the benefit of all citizens and open a new chapter in the history of modern Kazakhstan," he said.
Tokayev said Kazakhstan had been steadily pursuing large-scale reforms in recent years.
"Thanks to unity, harmony and solidarity, we have achieved significant results in building a Just Kazakhstan. However, there is still much work ahead," he said.
According to the president, amid unprecedented geopolitical tensions and growing global challenges, Kazakhstan must firmly and consistently implement its strategy of transforming the country into a truly developed state.
"This Sunday will mark such a fateful moment, when we will open a new page in Kazakhstan's history. Our future depends on the conscious choice of millions of citizens," Tokayev said.
Kazakhstan will hold elections to the new unicameral parliament, the Kurultai, on Aug. 23, 2026. Tokayev signed a decree setting the election date on July 1, 2026.
Previously, Kazakhstan's legislature was a bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate, the upper house, and the Mazhilis, the lower house. Following the entry into force of the new Constitution on July 1, 2026, the country's parliamentary system was transformed, replacing the bicameral Parliament with a unicameral Kurultai.
The Kurultai is the country's highest representative body and exercises legislative power.
The Kurultai will consist of 145 deputies elected for five-year terms from party lists in a single nationwide electoral district through universal, equal and direct voting by secret ballot.
Seven political parties are participating in the elections: the Adilet Party, the Nationwide Social Democratic Party, the Baitak Green Party, the People's Party of Kazakhstan, the Auyl People's Democratic Patriotic Party, the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan Ak Zhol and Respublica.
