Kazakhstan's government steps down as newly elected Kurultai convenes

Kazakhstan's newly elected parliament, the Kurultai, gathered for its inaugural session in Astana on Friday, marking a significant reshaping of the country's political structure. All 145 lawmakers attended as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev opened the session, declaring the start of a process to renew the nation's system of governance.

The parliament was elected in last Sunday's vote, in which the pro-government Adilet party secured more than 71 percent of support. The election followed the adoption of a new constitution in a March referendum, which took effect on 1 July 2026. The reform replaced the former two-chamber parliament, made up of the Mazhilis and Senate, with the single-chamber Kurultai, a name rooted in the historic assemblies of the Great Steppe peoples.

Government resigns, then carries on

Under the new constitution, the government must resign once a newly elected Kurultai convenes, and the cabinet duly relinquished its powers. To avoid a governance gap, Tokayev signed a decree ordering ministers to keep performing their duties until a new government is appointed.

The Kurultai comprises 145 lawmakers serving five-year terms across five parties. Adilet, which absorbed the former Amanat party, holds a dominant 110 seats, followed by Auyl with 10, Respublica with nine, the OSDP with eight and Ak Zhol with eight.

New chairman elected

Tokayev nominated Aibek Dadebai, who has led Adilet since May and previously headed the Presidential Administration, as Kurultai chairman. Lawmakers confirmed his candidacy by secret ballot and elected three deputy speakers. The Kurultai will operate eight standing committees, seven chaired by Adilet members and one by a representative of Auyl.

In the coming weeks, Tokayev is expected to nominate candidates for vice-president and prime minister, while a new body, the Kazakhstan People's Council, is set to be established in the second half of September.