Kazakhstan is preparing a sweeping constitutional reform that will reshape its political system, including the restoration of the vice president position, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced at the V National Kurultai.
Speaking at the national forum, Tokayev said the scale of the proposed parliamentary reform goes beyond technical amendments and effectively amounts to drafting a new version of the Constitution. The changes are expected to redefine the structure of legislative power and update governance mechanisms in line with current political realities.
One of the most notable announcements was the revival of the vice president post, which was abolished more than 30 years ago. According to Tokayev, the vice president will be appointed by the president and tasked with representing the head of state domestically and internationally, as well as carrying out responsibilities assigned by the president.
At the same time, the introduction of the new position will be accompanied by a restructuring of the current governance system. In particular, the post of state counselor will be abolished, while several units within the parliamentary administrative apparatus are also expected to be dissolved.
The constitutional overhaul is closely linked to plans to transform the Parliament, including a transition toward a unicameral legislative model. Tokayev emphasized that reforming the highest legislative body requires revising multiple chapters of the Constitution, signaling a structural rather than symbolic shift.
The president noted that discussions on constitutional reform have been underway for nearly six months and have involved political parties, experts, civil society, and citizens. He said public understanding of the reform’s objectives has matured, creating conditions for decisive institutional change.
Tokayev shared that he would present specific reform proposals as part of the ongoing process, stressing that Kazakhstan is entering a phase of systemic political transformation aimed at building a new governance model.
