“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.

Myths
1 min read

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.

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Last checked 18 August 2026
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