The myth
"Let the people decide everything through referendums – what do we need parliament for?"
The facts
A referendum and a parliament solve different problems.
When a referendum is needed:
- A new constitution – the foundation of the state, requiring the highest legitimacy
- Questions of sovereignty and territory
- Fundamental values on which society must speak directly
When parliament is more effective:
- Budget – thousands of line items, compromises between sectors and regions
- Tax code – hundreds of pages of technical provisions
- International treaties – negotiations and legal expertise
- Current legislation – hundreds of acts per year; a referendum on each is impossible
Risks of "referendum on everything":
- Voter fatigue – in Switzerland, referendum turnout is often below 40%
- Populism – a complex question is reduced to Yes/No
- Manipulation of the wording – a question can be phrased to steer the answer
The 2026 Constitution – exactly the right case
A new constitution is a fundamental choice. 84% of the text is new. A unicameral Kurultai replaces a bicameral parliament; parliamentary functions expand from 13 to 23; the Khalyk Kenesi, the Vice President, and new rights are introduced. This is not a technical amendment – it is a choice of direction for the country. Such a decision belongs to the people.
Why this myth exists
Disillusionment with parliament: "deputies do not represent our interests." But the solution is not to abolish parliament – it is to make it more effective. The new Constitution does exactly that: all 145 Kurultai deputies are directly elected, with quotas for women, young people, and people with disabilities.