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Kazakhstan to Elect a Unified Parliament for the First Time in 32 Years

On August 23, Kazakhstan will elect a unicameral parliament, the Kuru ltai, for the first time in 32 years.

23 August 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Kazakhstan to Elect a Unified Parliament for the First Time in 32 Years — Archive photoPhoto: Roland Zumbuehl · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On August 23, Kazakhstan will hold its first elections for the new unicameral parliament, the Kuru ltai. This will be the tenth parliamentary election in the country since gaining independence in 1991. After a prolonged period of a bicameral system, Kazakhstan is now returning to a unicameral parliament.

All 145 seats in the Kuru ltai will be awarded exclusively from party nominations, with only the seven political forces supporting President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's political agenda allowed to run. Opposition parties and independent candidates are excluded from the election.

The elections are the result of comprehensive constitutional reforms that have replaced the Senate and the Majilis. According to reports from Novaya Gazeta Europe, the voting process began at 8:00 PM local time.

At the start of the election process, the Central Election Commission reported that by 10:00 AM, 17.96% of eligible voters had cast their ballots. Polling stations will remain open until the evening to allow citizens to participate.

The distribution of seats will occur according to proportional representation, with party lists standing for election in a single national constituency. According to Kaktus.media, the party "Adilet" is considered the favorite in this election, having been established after the last parliament's dissolution.

This election is viewed as a significant event in Kazakhstan's political landscape, as it marks a return to a unicameral system and further consolidates the already existing political forces.

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