Adilet Party Wins 110 Seats in Kazakhstan’s First Kurultai

Astana (GNP): Kazakhstan has completed its transition to a new unicameral parliamentary system after holding its first Kurultai election on 23 August, with the ruling Adilet Party securing an overwhelming majority of 110 out of 145 seats.

The vote marked the first nationwide parliamentary election held under Kazakhstan’s new Constitution, approved in a March referendum and brought into force on 1 July, replacing the former bicameral Parliament of Senate and Mazhilis with a single 145-member chamber elected entirely through proportional representation.

Final results announced by the Central Election Commission show that five of the seven parties contesting the election crossed the five-percent threshold required for representation. Adilet received 71.17 percent of the vote, translating to 6.53 million ballots and 110 seats.

The Auyl Party placed second with 6.26 percent and 10 seats, followed by Respublica with 5.56 percent and nine seats. The Ak Zhol Democratic Party won 5.21 percent and eight seats, while the Nationwide Social Democratic Party secured 5.11 percent for an equal eight seats. Two parties, the People’s Party of Kazakhstan and the Baytaq Green Party, fell short of the threshold with 3.11 percent and 1.07 percent respectively, winning no seats.

Turnout figures point to strong public engagement with the new electoral system. A total of 9.35 million people cast ballots out of 12.62 million registered voters, putting turnout at 74.08 percent, a significant rise from the 54.21 percent recorded in the 2023 parliamentary election and broadly in line with the 73.12 percent participation seen in March’s constitutional referendum. Voting took place across 10,423 polling stations, including 79 established at Kazakh diplomatic missions in 61 countries, where overseas participation reached 84.4 percent among registered voters abroad.

The composition of the new legislature reflects a notable shift in representation. Women secured 49 of the 145 seats, accounting for 33.8 percent of the chamber compared with 18.4 percent in the former Mazhilis, while 18 deputies, or 12.4 percent of the body, fall into the youth category.

Members range in age from 27 to 65, with an average age of around 46.5 years, and while 36 deputies bring previous national parliamentary experience, 109 are entering the legislature for the first time.

Adilet’s dominant position stems from its formation through the merger of the former governing Amanat Party with a new political structure in June 2026. Its 110-member faction, which accounts for nearly 76 percent of the chamber and gives the party a constitutional majority, includes 37 women, 13 youth representatives and two persons with disabilities, with 24 members having previously served in the national Parliament.

Seven parties fielded nationwide lists with 545 registered candidates in total, including 172 women, 74 candidates aged 35 or younger and 19 persons with disabilities, meeting a legal requirement that these groups collectively make up at least 30 percent of every party’s list.

International scrutiny of the vote drew broadly positive assessments alongside some caveats. The Central Election Commission accredited 777 international observers, including 160 representatives from 42 countries and 617 from 13 international organisations. The OSCE/ODIHR-led mission described the election as technically well prepared and the campaign as generally calm and orderly, while also flagging concerns over limited political pluralism and aspects of transparency.

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The CIS Observer Mission called the election fair, competitive and open, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization reported no complaints or violations during its initial monitoring, and the Organization of Turkic States said voting was conducted openly and in line with Kazakhstan’s legislation.

With results confirmed, the new Kurultai convened its first session in Astana on Friday to begin establishing its leadership, factions and committees. The outgoing Government has resigned its mandate before the newly elected chamber, and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is now expected to begin forming a new Government, including seeking the Kurultai’s consent for the appointment of a Prime Minister.

With its commanding majority secured, Adilet is positioned to play a decisive role in shaping the pace and direction of the President’s broader reform and legislative agenda in the months ahead.