“These elections will mark the starting point for new reforms for the benefit of all citizens” — President

Tengrinews.kz — On August 23, Kazakhstan will hold a truly historic event — the first election to the Kurultai. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said this in an address to the people of Kazakhstan, according to Akorda.
The Head of State noted that in recent years the country has been steadily pursuing large-scale reforms.

“Thanks to unity, harmony and solidarity, we have managed to achieve significant results in building a Just Kazakhstan. But there is still much work ahead. With the People’s Constitution now in force, these elections will become the starting point for new reforms for the benefit of all citizens and will open a new chapter in the history of modern Kazakhstan,” he said.

The President added that the Kurultai election had been announced in advance so that all parties could properly prepare for it.

“As a result, the first Kurultai election campaign was substantive, open, competitive and civilized. This is the general view of our citizens. There is no doubt that these elections will be remembered as perhaps the most interesting in the history of our country,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.

Read the full text of the Head of State’s address at the link.
As a reminder, on August 23 Kazakhstan will elect a new Parliament — the unicameral Kurultai. These will be the first parliamentary elections following the constitutional reform: the Senate and Mazhilis were abolished, and a 145-seat Kurultai was created in place of the bicameral Parliament.
Seven parties are competing for seats in the new legislative body. The Adilet party has nominated the largest number of candidates — 186. It is followed by Auyl with 69, Respublica with 76, the People’s Party of Kazakhstan with 72, Ak Zhol with 63, Baitak with 47 and the Nationwide Social Democratic Party with 33 candidates.
After the election, the former parliamentary structure will be fully replaced by the new unicameral system.