What changed after the new Constitution was adopted?

On 15 March 2026, citizens of Kazakhstan approved the new Constitution in a referendum. Key constitutional laws were signed on June 5, the Constitution takes effect on July 1, Kurultai elections are expected in August 2026, and the Kazakhstan People's Council is expected to launch in September.

Current as of June 10, 2026. This page is updated as new official acts, decrees, and clarifications are published.
After the Referendum
1 min read 📄
0:00

Key Points

After the referendum of March 15, 2026, the constitutional reform moved from the drafting stage to the launch stage. It is now important to distinguish between what has already been signed, what starts on July 1, and what still awaits a separate decree or organisational step.

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 transition period continues until the Constitution enters into force.

What Starts on July 1, 2026

  • The new Constitution becomes the Basic Law of the country.
  • The 1995 Constitution ceases to apply.
  • New constitutional guarantees begin to apply, including the reduction of detention without court to 48 hours and direct citizen access to the Constitutional Court.

What Is Expected Next

  • After July 1, 2026, the President is expected to sign the decree calling Kurultai elections.
  • The first elections to the unicameral Kurultai are expected in August 2026.
  • The appointment of the Vice President depends on the formation of the Kurultai and its consent to the nominee.
  • The Kazakhstan People's Council is expected as the next public stage of the reform in September 2026.

Facts

  • March 15, 2026 — referendum and adoption of the new Constitution
  • June 5, 2026 — key constitutional laws signed
  • July 1, 2026 — Constitution enters into force
  • August 2026 — expected Kurultai elections
  • September 2026 — expected launch of the Kazakhstan People's Council
Related questions

How will the Kurultai be formed?

The Kurultai is a unicameral supreme representative body of 145 deputies. The constitutional law on the Kurultai was signed on June 5, 2026, and the first elections are expected in August after the Constitution enters into force and a presidential decree is issued.

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.

Kurultai Elections 2026: What Is Already Known

After the Constitution enters into force on July 1, a presidential decree is expected to call the first Kurultai elections. The public target is August 2026; it is already known that the Kurultai will be a unicameral body of 145 deputies elected by proportional representation.

When do the new constitutional laws take effect?

Some of the key laws were already signed on June 5, 2026. The Constitution itself takes effect on July 1, and after that a decree on Kurultai elections and the launch of institutions that depend on the new parliament are expected.