President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announces Parliamentary Elections for January 10, 2021
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree scheduling Majilis elections for Jan. 10, 2021. The previous elections were held in March 2016.
Majilis is the lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament consisting of 107 deputies, who are elected for a five-year term.
“All political parties had time to prepare for the upcoming election campaign, develop an election platform, and enhance party infrastructure. The Central Election Commission and the Prosecutor General’s Office will continuously monitor the legality, transparency, and fairness of elections.”
“One chair and two secretaries of the Majilis standing committees will now be elected from the members of the parliamentary opposition. In addition, the parliamentary opposition will have the right to initiate parliamentary hearings at least once during one session and to set the agenda for the government hour at least twice during one session,” said the President.
In 2019, the President signed the decree that introduced a mandatory 30 percent quota for women and young people in party lists in an effort to increase their voice in the decision-making process.
The next elections to maslikhats (representative local authority bodies) will for the first time be held based on party lists, which will “enable parties to strengthen their position in the country’s political system.”
The renewed composition of the Kazakh parliament, according to the address, will focus on “quality legislative support for social and economic reforms in the country.”
“The serious economic crisis stemming from the coronavirus pandemic has affected many countries and adversely impacted the entire global economy. At these challenging times, Kazakhstan has to take effective anti-crisis measures, ensuring sustainable economic development, social wellbeing of our citizens, and improving the well-being of the people,” said President Tokayev.
See the full text of the address here: