Kazakhstan

House of Representatives Senate

House of Representatives

Political system
Presidential-Parliamentary
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes
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Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s)
10 Jan 2021
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
No information available
Timing of election
Upon normal expiry
Number of seats at stake
98
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election
5
Total number of candidates
312
Number of male candidates
222
Number of female candidates
90
Percentage of women candidates
28.8%

Voter turnout

Registered voters
11,915,903
Voters
7,241,562
Voter turnout
60.8%

Results

About the election

The 2021 elections were the first to be held under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who succeeded President Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2019. Mr. Nazarbayev had led the country since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. His Nur Otan party remained the largest force in the 107-member House of Representatives (see note 1), with 76 seats (down from 84 in 2017). Two other parties also entered the House of Representatives: the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan (led by Mr. Azat Peruashev) and the People's Party of Kazakhstan (led by Mr. Aikyn Konurov). Both parties reportedly have close ties with Nur Otan.

On 15 January, the newly elected House of Representatives held its first session. It re-elected Mr. Nurlan Nigmatulin as its Speaker after the former President nominated him for the post at a Nur Otan party meeting. The new legislature comprised 29 women (see note 2), including former Senate President Dariga Nazarbayeva (Nur Otan), the eldest daughter of former President Nazarbayev.

The 2021 elections were held amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2020, the All-National Social Democratic Party (OSDP, led by Mr. Askhat Rakhimzhanov) announced that it was boycotting the elections. OSDP is the country’s sole officially registered party that claims to be the opposition. Turnout dropped from 77.12 per cent of 9 million voters in 2017 to 60.77 per cent of nearly 12 million registered voters in 2021.

Note 1:

In addition to 98 directly elected members, 9 members are indirectly elected with the consent of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, a body comprising delegates from regional assemblies of the people that represent various ethnic groups in Kazakhstan.

Note 2:

On 25 May 2020, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed amendments to the Constitutional Law, and the law on political parties. Political parties are now required to ensure that the number of women and people under the age of 29 jointly constitute at least 30 per cent of candidates in their party lists.

Number of parties winning seats
3
Percentage of parties winning seats
60.0%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
77.6%
Alternation of power after elections
No

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group Total
Nur Otan" party 76
Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan 12
People's Party of Kazakhstan 10
Assembly of People of Kazakhstan 9
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
78
Number of women elected
29
Percentage of women elected
27.1%
Women Directly Elected
29
Other notes on the elections

Note on the timing of election:

The outgoing legislature held its first session on 25 March 2016 and its five-year term was due to expire in March 2021. Article 51.1 of the Constitution stipulates that regular elections of deputies to the Mazhilis [House of Representatives] are to be held no later than two months before the expiry of the term of the parliament currently in session. The 2021 elections were considered to be held upon normal expiry.

Note on the number of parties winning seats:

The number of parties winning seats excludes the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, which selects nine members to sit in the House of Representatives.

Sources

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
78
Total number of women after the election
29
Percentage of women after the election
27.1%
First-term parliamentarians
No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
No information available
Date of the first session
15 Jan 2021

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Nurlan Nigmatulin (Male)
Date of birth: 1962
Date of election
15 Jan 2021

Historical data for IPU membership

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Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No