New Cabinet: How Kazakhstan’s Government Has Changed

Kazakhstan’s government resigned on August 28 after elections for the new unicameral Kurultai, setting in motion a cabinet reshuffle required by the country’s new Constitution.

The Constitution, which came into force on July 1, dissolved the Mazhilis and Senate, created the Kurultai and required the government to resign after parliamentary elections. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev confirmed the arrangement on election day, August 23.

The new cabinet has 25 ministerial positions, including the prime minister. Four new ministers were appointed, amounting to a 16 percent turnover. Oljas Bektenov retained the prime minister’s post. He has held it since February 2024 and was reappointed in August 2026.

Five of the prime minister’s six deputies also kept their positions. First Deputy Prime Minister Nurlybek Nalibayev previously served as Akim of Kyzylorda and held senior regional-development posts. Galymzhan Koishybayev remains deputy prime minister and chief of the government staff, overseeing civil service, administrative reform, deregulation, digitalization and legislative work. Kanat Bozumbayev continues to oversee regional policy, housing and utilities, water resources and emergency management.

Serik Zhumangarin remains deputy prime minister and minister of national economy, with responsibilities spanning macroeconomic, budgetary, tax and trade policy, business, investment, the financial sector, agribusiness and land relations. Zhaslan Madiyev was appointed deputy prime minister and minister of artificial intelligence and digital development for a second time. He previously served as first vice minister of digital development and as general manager of Binance Kazakhstan.

The sixth deputy prime minister’s position had been held by Aida Balayeva, who was recently appointed deputy chair of the Security Council. A new culture minister joined the cabinet but did not receive the deputy prime minister’s title. The first minister appointed by Tokayev was the foreign minister, a post given to 58-year-old Mukhtar Tleuberdi.