Kazakhstan's Mazhilis holds final session before transition to unicameral parliament

The fourth session of the eighth convocation of the Mazhilis, Kazakhstan's lower house of parliament, held its final plenary meeting on Friday, June 26. This marks a significant transition as this convocation is the last in the modern history of Kazakhstan's bicameral legislature.

Following constitutional changes set to take effect on July 1, 2026, the current parliamentary structure, comprising the Mazhilis and the Senate, will be replaced by a unicameral Parliament known as the Kurultai. Elections for the deputies of this new legislative body are scheduled for August.

During its final session, Mazhilis deputies reviewed and approved Senate amendments to a law concerning environmental issues and the improvement of specific economic sectors. They also passed a law ratifying a protocol on amendments to an agreement between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan regarding checkpoints on their shared state border, which was then forwarded to the Senate.

Mazhilis Chairman Yerlan Koshanov summarized the session's outcomes and expressed gratitude to deputies, government members, staff, and media representatives for their collaborative efforts. The transition to the Kurultai signifies a fundamental shift in Kazakhstan's governance structure.