Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has put forward an initiative for a radical reform of the national parliament, proposing to study the possibility of moving from a bicameral to a unicameral system of legislative power, writes interfax.ru.

Speaking at a joint session of the chambers of parliament with a message to the people, the head of state stated the need to consider the creation of a unicameral parliament in the foreseeable future. Tokayev emphasized that this issue requires careful consideration and broad public discussion.

According to the schedule proposed by the president, the period of comprehensive discussion on this issue will take at least a year, given the extraordinary nature of the proposed reform. Following the discussion, a national referendum is planned for 2027, after which the corresponding amendments will be made to the Constitution of the Republic.

“This is a very serious issue, and rushing to resolve it is completely inappropriate,” Tokayev said, emphasizing the need for a thorough discussion of the initiative in the civil sector, expert community, and the current parliament.

If a decision is made to create a unicameral parliament, the president proposed to form it exclusively on the basis of party lists. This approach, according to the head of state, will strengthen the role of political parties in the electoral process.

Tokayev also outlined a transition period for the implementation of the reform. The current composition of the Majilis (lower house) will be able to continue legislative activity practically until the end of its term, and the Senate (upper house) will function until the results of the referendum are summed up and new parliamentary elections are held.

The President noted that political parties will have enough time to prepare for the upcoming competitive struggle within the framework of the updated electoral system.