KAZAKHSTAN CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM TO REINTRODUCE KURULTAI SYSTEM SCHEDULED FOR 15 MARCH

Kazakhstan will hold a nationwide constitutional referendum on 15 March 2026 to determine whether to adopt a new constitution replacing the current basic law adopted in 1995. The referendum will ask voters to approve a draft constitution prepared by a Constitutional Commission and published in February 2026. The proposed constitution introduces structural changes to Kazakhstan’s institutional framework, including reforms to the legislative branch, the creation of a vice presidency and revisions to several provisions governing rights and state institutions.

The draft constitution was prepared following reform proposals announced during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s 2025 State of the Nation Address. During the drafting process, the Constitutional Commission reviewed proposals submitted by legal experts, government bodies, civil society organisations and citizens. According to publicly available summaries, the resulting draft text contains a preamble and 95 articles organised into eleven sections covering constitutional principles, institutional arrangements and fundamental rights.

If approved by voters in the constitutional referendum, the new constitution is scheduled to enter into force on 1 July 2026. From that date, the institutional reforms contained in the draft document would begin to be implemented through new legislation and organisational changes to the state system.

Referendum Procedure And Voting Requirements

The constitutional referendum will be conducted under Kazakhstan’s law on republican referendums. Under this legal framework, national referendums can be called by the President on constitutional matters or other issues considered to have national importance. The decree scheduling the referendum was signed on 11 February 2026 after the Constitutional Commission submitted the final draft constitution.

For the constitutional referendum to be valid, participation must reach at least half of the registered voters nationwide. In addition, the draft constitution must receive a majority of votes from participating voters. The approval threshold also requires that a majority of voters in at least two-thirds of Kazakhstan’s regions and cities of republican significance support the proposal.

These provisions are intended to ensure that constitutional changes are approved through nationwide participation and broad regional representation. If these conditions are met, the constitution will be considered adopted, and the transition to the new constitutional framework will begin.

Parliamentary Reform And The Creation Of The Kurultai

One of the most significant institutional changes proposed in the constitutional referendum concerns the restructuring of Kazakhstan’s parliament. The current legislative system consists of two chambers: the Senate and the Mazhilis. Under the draft constitution, this bicameral structure would be replaced by a unicameral parliament called the Kurultai.

The proposed Kurultai would consist of 145 deputies elected through proportional representation based on party lists. Deputies would serve five-year terms and would form the government’s primary legislative body. The consolidation of legislative authority into a single chamber would replace the existing division of responsibilities between the Senate and Mazhilis.

If the new constitution enters into force, the current parliament could cease its mandate, and new elections would be organised to establish the Kurultai. The legislative body would exercise powers defined in the constitution, including adopting laws, approving certain government appointments and conducting parliamentary oversight of the executive branch.

The draft constitution also outlines procedures governing relations between the president, government and parliament. Under these provisions, the president would nominate the prime minister for approval by the Kurultai, while parliament would participate in confirming specific senior state appointments.

Introduction Of A Vice Presidency

The draft constitution also introduces the position of Vice President within Kazakhstan’s executive branch. The office existed during the early years following independence but was abolished in the 1990s. Under the new proposal, the Vice President would be appointed by the President and approved by the Kurultai.

The Vice President would be integrated into the constitutional structure of the executive branch and would perform duties defined in the constitution and subsequent legislation. The draft provisions specify that the Vice President would be prohibited from holding other paid positions, engaging in entrepreneurial activity or belonging to a political party during the term of office.

In addition to the vice presidency, the draft constitution includes the creation of a People’s Council of Kazakhstan. The council would function as a consultative institution and would be granted the right to initiate legislation. It is intended to serve as a national dialogue platform bringing together representatives from public organisations, regional authorities and other social institutions.

Constitutional Rights And Governance Provisions

The draft constitution also revises several sections concerning fundamental rights and governance principles. The document affirms Kazakhstan’s status as a democratic, secular and unitary state and emphasises the rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The section on rights and freedoms includes provisions addressing civil liberties, religious freedom and personal privacy. Additional references are made to environmental protection and citizens’ rights in the digital environment. The document also contains provisions concerning education, science, culture and innovation as components of national development policy.

Language policy is also addressed in the draft constitution. Kazakh remains the state language, while Russian continues to be recognised for official use in state institutions and public administration.

The draft text also includes provisions governing the judicial system and the role of the Constitutional Court. These sections define the institutional framework for constitutional review and outline principles related to judicial independence and the operation of courts.

Historical Context Of The Kurultai

The name Kurultai has historical origins in the political traditions of Turkic and Mongol societies. Historically, a kurultai referred to an assembly of leaders convened to discuss matters of governance, succession or major political decisions.

In contemporary Kazakhstan, the term has been used in recent years for consultative institutions such as the National Kurultai, which brings together representatives from civil society, regional authorities and cultural organisations to discuss public policy issues. The proposed constitution would extend the use of this term to the government’s primary legislative body.

Implementation Of The New Constitutional Framework

If the constitutional referendum results in approval of the draft constitution, the new framework is scheduled to take effect on 1 July 2026. The transition would involve the adoption of legislation regulating the functioning of new institutions, including the Kurultai and the vice presidency.

The implementation phase would also require the organisation of parliamentary elections under the new electoral framework and the establishment of administrative procedures governing relations between the executive, legislative and judicial branches.

The referendum, therefore, represents the formal mechanism through which voters will decide whether Kazakhstan adopts the proposed constitution and initiates the institutional reforms contained in the draft document.