On February 17, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had a phone conversation with Sadyr Japarov, during which constitutional reforms in Kazakhstan were discussed. Tokayev emphasized the importance of the ongoing reform for the future of the country, while Japarov expressed support for these changes.
The editorial team of Kaktus.media offers an overview of the key aspects of the constitutional reform in Kazakhstan.
Current Events
On September 8, 2025, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in his annual address, highlighted the need to transition to a unicameral parliament and reform the political system.In response, on October 8, 2025, a decree was signed to create a working group that included legal experts, specialists, and representatives of political parties. Citizens were also given the opportunity to submit their proposals.
At the V meeting of the National Kurultai in January 2026, Tokayev summarized the work of the group.
On January 21, a constitutional commission was formed.
The text of the new Constitution was published on February 12.
The referendum will take place on March 15.
Proposed Changes
The presented Constitution is not just a set of amendments, but a new Fundamental Law that affects over 80% of the existing text.As stated on the website of the Constitutional Council, the new edition "reflects the maturity of the Kazakh state, its international authority, and its strategic focus on progressive development." The preamble has added the word "unified," and the concept of a "Just Kazakhstan" and the observance of human rights are mentioned, maintaining continuity with the country's history.
Key changes include:
- Parliament reform: instead of a bicameral parliament (Mazhilis and Senate), it is proposed to create a unicameral body - the Kurultai, consisting of 145 deputies with expanded powers and a proportional electoral system. The term of office for deputies will be five years.
- Redistribution of power: it is proposed to balance powers between the president, parliament, and government to create a stable institutional model.
- Limitation of presidential terms: the president will be elected for only one seven-year term.
- Introduction of the vice-presidency: the vice-president will be appointed by the president with the consent of the new parliament (Kurultai).
- Status of the Russian language: the wording regarding the status of the Russian language will change from "on an equal basis" to "alongside" the Kazakh language. This has sparked discussions, but the status of the Russian language will not remain as it was.
- Supremacy of the Constitution: the new text establishes the highest legal force of the Constitution, including priority over international treaties.
- Creation of new institutions: the establishment of institutions such as the People's Council with the right of legislative initiative is being discussed.
- Definition of marriage: an article is introduced stating that marriage is a voluntary and equal union of a man and a woman.
Role of the President
The president will remain the head of state with key powers and a term of seven years (one term).The draft Constitution proposes a model: "Strong president - influential parliament - accountable government," while the president retains a leading role in the power system.
The authorities emphasize that the new Constitution aims to balance the "super-presidential" system towards a more balanced presidential republic; however, many experts express concerns that the powers of the president may remain broad or even increase.
Reasons for Changing the Constitution
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev believes that the new Constitution will serve as a powerful impetus for the development of Kazakhstan.He noted that "the norms provided in the draft enshrine the consistency and logic of the development of Kazakhstan's political system, oriented towards the concept of 'Strong president - influential parliament - accountable government'." According to him, Kazakhstan is definitively abandoning the super-presidential system and transitioning to a presidential republic with an influential parliament.
However, the process has faced criticism from human rights defenders. For example, Human Rights Watch warns of potential risks to freedom of speech and assembly due to vague wording in the draft, which could lead to restrictions on the activities of civil society organizations.
History of Constitutional Changes in Kazakhstan
The Constitution of Kazakhstan has been amended twice since independence: in 1993 and 1995. The second Constitution has been supplemented with amendments six times: in 1998, 2007, 2011, 2017, 2019, and 2022. The latest changes, made after the January protests, included 56 amendments, among which are a seven-year term for the president, a prohibition on being a member of political parties, and the exclusion of the article on the status of Nursultan Nazarbayev as the leader of the nation.When Will the New Constitution Take Effect
If the reform is approved, the new Constitution may come into effect on July 1, 2026, which will lead to the dissolution of the current parliament and a transition to a new political order.
