“The Kurultai is just the Mazhilis under a new name”
It is not a simple rename: the Senate is abolished, presidential appointments are removed, the election system changes, the threshold rises from 5% to 7%, and women, young people, and persons with disabilities must jointly make up at least 30% of a party list.
Myth
“The Kurultai is just the Mazhilis with a new label.”
Fact
The new model changes not the signboard, but the entire parliamentary architecture.
What Changes in Substance
- The Senate is abolished – the bicameral model disappears.
- Presidential appointments are removed – there are no more appointed Senate seats.
- The election system changes – the Kurultai is formed under a new model.
- The threshold rises from 5% to 7%.
- Women, young people, and persons with disabilities must jointly make up at least 30% of a party list.
Why the Myth Appears
From a distance it may look as though only the name changed because parliament still passes laws. But the structure, formation process, and logic of representation are all different.
Conclusion
The Kurultai is not “the same Mazhilis,” but a new constitutional model of parliament.
Basis for this explainer
Constitutional provisions and primary sources supporting this explanation.
Constitutional provisions
Primary sources
Open sources the editorial team used to verify this explainer. Checked 16 July 2026.
Related articles
Quick links to the constitutional articles behind this explainer.