Kazakhstan concluded its first election to a new unicameral legislature on Friday, August 23, 2026, with turnout reaching 74.19 percent as voters selected 145 deputies to the newly renamed Kurultai. The vote, conducted under rules that banned opposition parties and allowed only seven state-approved political organizations to compete, is expected to consolidate President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's control over the country's political system and complete a constitutional overhaul he has pursued since 2022.

The pro-presidential Adilet party dominated the election, with exit polls showing it won an overwhelming majority of seats. Four smaller parties loyal to Tokayev also secured representation, while two parties failed to meet the threshold for parliamentary entry. All seven parties that participated publicly support the president, ensuring that the new legislature will function as a compliant body rather than a check on executive power.

The election marks a significant shift in Kazakhstan's governance structure. In a constitutional referendum held in March, voters approved changes that abolished the bicameral parliament and replaced it with a single-chamber Kurultai elected through proportional representation in a nationwide constituency. President Tokayev formalized the name change from "parliament" to "Kurultai" in a decree published on August 19, four days before the election, framing the move as a return to traditional Turkic governance forms.

Opposition Excluded, State-Approved Parties Dominate

The Central Election Commission registered seven parties to compete in the election, but all had received state approval and none represented genuine opposition to Tokayev's administration. Opposition parties and candidates were systematically excluded from the process, either through legal obstacles or outright bans. As a result, voters were presented with a choice among parties that differed in emphasis but not in their support for the president's policies.

Adilet, a newly formed party created to consolidate forces around Tokayev, was designed to function as the dominant legislative bloc. The party campaigned on themes of stability, economic development, and loyalty to the president's reform agenda. Smaller parties, including the People's Party of Kazakhstan and the Green Party, failed to win enough votes to enter the legislature, according to preliminary results.

International observers and human rights organizations have criticized the election as neither free nor fair. Deutsche Welle reported that the vote "cements president's power," while Al Jazeera noted that critics say the election will "strengthen the power of the president" in a political system already heavily tilted toward executive authority. Opposition groups and civil society activists described the process as a facade of democracy designed to legitimize one-party rule.

Constitutional Reforms Reshape Political Landscape

The election follows a series of constitutional changes initiated by Tokayev in response to violent protests in January 2022. The unrest, sparked by fuel price increases and economic frustration, resulted in more than 200 deaths and prompted the president to request military assistance from Russia and other members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. In the aftermath, Tokayev announced a series of political reforms intended to decentralize power and create a "New Kazakhstan."

However, the reforms have had the opposite effect. The elimination of the Senate and the creation of a single-chamber legislature elected through proportional representation have concentrated legislative power in a body that is easier for the executive to control. Under the previous bicameral system, the Senate included appointed members and representatives from regional councils, creating at least a theoretical source of independent voices. The new Kurultai, by contrast, will be composed entirely of party members who owe their positions to Tokayev's approval.

Tokayev also announced plans to introduce a vice presidency within the next 10 days, a position that does not currently exist in Kazakhstan's constitution. The announcement, made on August 23, suggests further centralization of executive authority and the creation of a succession mechanism that could extend Tokayev's influence beyond his current term.

Central Asia's Delicate Balancing Act

As Central Asia's largest nation by land area and a key energy exporter, Kazakhstan has long maintained a delicate balance between Russia and the West. The country hosts Russian military installations and participates in Moscow-led regional security organizations, but it has also sought economic ties with the United States, Europe, and China. Tokayev has walked this tightrope carefully, avoiding direct confrontation with Russia while pursuing policies that preserve Kazakhstan's economic independence.

The parliamentary election is unlikely to change this balance. All seven parties that competed expressed support for maintaining Kazakhstan's multi-vector foreign policy, which prioritizes economic pragmatism over ideological alignment. However, the concentration of legislative power in a single pro-presidential party reduces the likelihood that any domestic political force will challenge Tokayev's foreign policy decisions, giving him a freer hand in managing relations with Moscow, Beijing, and Washington.

Turnout and Legitimacy Questions

The Central Election Commission reported that more than 9 million Kazakhs out of 12.6 million eligible voters participated in the election, a turnout rate of approximately 74 percent. However, observers have questioned whether the reported figures reflect genuine voter enthusiasm or the result of organized mobilization efforts by state institutions and employers. In authoritarian political systems, high turnout is often seen as a measure of regime strength and a signal of public compliance rather than genuine democratic engagement.

The commission is expected to announce preliminary results in a dedicated briefing, with the timing to be communicated separately. Based on exit polls, Adilet is projected to hold at least 70 percent of the seats, ensuring that Tokayev will face no legislative obstacles to his policy agenda for the foreseeable future.

For Kazakhstan's political opposition, the election represents another setback in a long struggle against authoritarian rule. With all legal avenues for dissent closed and state-approved parties dominating the new legislature, the prospects for political pluralism in Kazakhstan appear increasingly remote as Tokayev consolidates power under the banner of reform.