Main point
Once the Constitution entered into force on July 1, 2026, the reform moved into its working phase. It is now important to distinguish three things: what is already in force, which institutions are launching on a fixed timetable, and which decisions still depend on the Kurultai elections.
What Has Already Happened
- On June 5, 2026, the signed constitutional laws on the President, the Kurultai, and the Kazakhstan People's Council were published.
- The basic model of the new institutions is already fixed in the official texts.
- The Constitution entered into force on July 1, while the institutional transition continues until the new bodies are formed.
What Has Been in Force Since July 1, 2026
- The new Constitution became the Basic Law of the country.
- The 1995 Constitution ceased to apply.
- New constitutional guarantees are in force, including the reduction of detention without court to 48 hours. Citizen applications to the Constitutional Court have been accepted since January 1, 2023; the new Constitution preserves that mechanism.
What Is Expected Next
- On July 1, 2026, the President signed the decree calling Kurultai elections.
- The first elections to the unicameral Kurultai are scheduled for August 23, 2026.
- The appointment of the Vice President depends on the formation of the Kurultai and its consent to the nominee.
- The law on the Kazakhstan People's Council has been in force since July 1, and its Secretariat was created on July 2. No separate official date for approving the membership or holding the first session has yet been published.
Facts
- March 15, 2026 – referendum and adoption of the new Constitution
- June 5, 2026 – key constitutional laws signed
- July 1, 2026 – Constitution entered into force
- August 23, 2026 – Kurultai deputy elections
- July 2, 2026 – Secretariat of the Kazakhstan People's Council created; the first-session date has not yet been published