The Amanat party (formerly the Nur Otan party), which supports President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, retained a majority in the 98-member House of Representatives (see note 1), wining 62 seats. Five other pro-presidential parties took a total of 29 seats. For the first time since 2004, independent candidates were allowed to participate in the parliamentary elections and seven were elected. On 29 March, the newly elected House of Representatives held its first session and re-elected Mr. Yerlan Koshanov (Amanat party) as the Speaker, a post he had held since February 2022. The following day, it re-elected Mr. Alikhan Smailov (in office since January 2022) as the Prime Minister.

Early elections in 2023 followed the 2022 constitutional amendments (see note 2). The polls were held under the electoral law revised in 2022, which stipulates a combined 30% quota for women, youth and people with disabilities (see note 3). The threshold to win at least one of the 69 seats filled under the proportional representation system was lowered from 7% to 5%. The 2023 elections were held against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine that started in February 2022. The war has affected trade, investment and supply chains throughout the country. The former member of the Soviet Union has maintained good relationships with both Russia and the West. On 19 January 2023, President Tokayev dissolved the House of Representatives and called snap elections for 19 March, stating that they would “give new impetus to the modernization”.

Note 1:
The statutory number of members decreased from 107 to 98 following constitutional amendments in 2022 that abolished nine seats elected with the consent of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan.

Note 2:
The 2022 constitutional amendments increased the statutory number of senators from 49 to 50. The chamber now comprises 40 indirectly elected senators (up from 34), and 10 members appointed by the President (down from 15). Five of the appointed members are proposed by the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan, an advisory body chaired by the President. The Assembly aims to represent the various ethnic groups that make up Kazakhstan. Early indirect elections to the Senate were held on 14 January 2023.

Note 3:
At least 30% of the total number of candidates on a party list must belong to three categories: women, youth (under 35 years of age), and people with disabilities. During the distribution of seats, at least 30% of deputies must be representatives of these three categories. All parties complied with the quota in 2023. In all, 18 women (including young people and those with disabilities), 12 youth and five people with disabilities were elected in 2023.

Source: Articles 89.4 and 97-1.5 of the 1995 Constitutional Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan, amended by No. 156-VII, dated 5 November 2022, which came into effect on 1 January 2023: https://adilet.zan.kz/eng/docs/Z950002464_