The ultimate goal of the political modernization underway in Kazakhstan is to bring power closer to the people, to make the decision-making process more open and balanced. The reforms initiated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev aim to abandon the overly centralized model of governance and create a new political system that takes into account the needs and opinions of society. In this context, the initiative to create a unicameral, influential Parliament is a strategic decision born of the times.
The 30-year history of the Parliament of Kazakhstan is closely connected with the formation of statehood, the emergence from the crisis and sustainable development. The bicameral system, especially the Senate, served to maintain political stability during the transition period, protect the interests of the regions and ensure the quality of lawmaking. This historical mission has been fully fulfilled. The task now is to transition to a new model suitable for Kazakhstan, whose society has matured and political culture has grown.
The transition to a unicameral Parliament is not a return to the past, but rather an evolutionary development of the political system. This step will create a new balance of power based on the principle of "Strong President - Influential Parliament - Accountable Government". Such a Parliament will strengthen the representative and oversight functions of the legislative branch, becoming a real counterweight to the executive branch.
The new Parliament should be formed on a proportional, party basis. This will allow for the development of multi-partyism and the widest coverage of the interests of various social groups. The proportional system will not only increase political competition, but also force parties to work actively in the inter-election period. As a result, the Parliament will become the main political platform where the specific demands and views of society converge.
An important component of parliamentary reform is digital transformation. Electronic Parliament, data-driven analytics, and artificial intelligence elements make the lawmaking process more transparent, faster, and more qualitative. Digital democracy transforms the traditional representation model into a “permanent dialogue” format, making the connection between the deputy and the voter seamless. This takes the Parliament’s engagement with the public to a new level.
The transition to a unicameral system requires effective mechanisms that take into account the interests of the regions. For this purpose, it is proposed to establish a Council of Regions under the Parliament and strengthen institutional ties with maslikhats. This will form a chain of "people - maslikhat - national Parliament" and pave the way for local issues to be resolved at the national level.
In general, an influential Parliament is the institutional pillar of a Just Kazakhstan. It strengthens political competition, ensures a balance between the branches of power, and increases transparency and accountability. Such a system prevents corruption and becomes a reliable guarantee of protecting the rights and interests of citizens.
A unified, multi-party, and technologically advanced Parliament is a concrete step towards the sovereignty and sustainable development of Kazakhstan. It is the beginning of a new political era based on public trust.