When will the Vice President appear and what is the role?

The office of Vice President is established by the new Constitution and by the law on the President signed on June 5, 2026. The Vice President is appointed by the President with the consent of the Kurultai, so the full launch of the office depends on the formation of the new parliament.

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Why the Vice President is Introduced

Under the 1995 Constitution, if presidential powers ended early, they passed to the Chair of the Senate, then the Chair of the Mazhilis, and then the Prime Minister. The new model places the Vice President first in that chain, making the mechanism of continuity more direct and manageable.

New Succession Order

  1. Vice President – first in line
  2. Chair of the Kurultai – if the Vice President cannot assume the powers
  3. Prime Minister – next in the order of substitution

How the Office is Filled

  • The Vice President is appointed by the President.
  • The appointment requires the consent of the Kurultai.
  • Exact qualification details should be checked against the final text of the signed law on the President and the official publication.

When the Institution Can Fully Start

  • The constitutional norm begins to operate on July 1, 2026.
  • Under Article 95, the appointment must be made within two months after the opening of the first session of the first Kurultai and requires the Kurultai's consent.

Fact

The Vice President institution existed in Kazakhstan in 1991–1995. The first and only Vice President was Erik Asanbayev.

Basis for this explainer

Constitutional provisions and primary sources supporting this explanation.

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.

Article 49Vice President Article 50Vice President Article 51Vice President
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What New Institutions Will Be Created

The reform follows different timelines: the Vice President is appointed after the first Kurultai session, the law on the Kazakhstan People's Council is in force and its Secretariat was created on July 2, while the citizen application mechanism at the Constitutional Court has operated since 2023.

When Will Kurultai Elections Be Held

The first Kurultai elections are scheduled for August 23, 2026. On July 1, 2026, after the Constitution entered into force, the President signed the decree calling the elections. The Kurultai is a unicameral body of 145 deputies elected by proportional representation.

What constitutional laws were signed on June 5, 2026?

Four core laws cover the President, the Kurultai, the Constitutional Court, and the Kazakhstan People's Council. They entered into force on July 1, 2026. The Kurultai law sets 145 seats, a 7% threshold, and an aggregate quota of at least 30% for women, young people, and persons with disabilities; citizen access to the Constitutional Court has operated since 2023.

What Happens During the Transition Period

The transition period from March 16 to June 30, 2026 is complete. Key laws were signed on June 5, the new Constitution entered into force on July 1, and the decree calling Kurultai elections has been signed.
About this page

Updated: 26 July 2026. This page was prepared by the constitution.my editorial team using official publications and open legal sources. Core sources: Gov.kz, Akorda.kz, Adilet.zan.kz, Parlam.kz, and materials of the Constitutional Court of Kazakhstan.

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