The lower chamber of the Kazakh parliament of the fifth calling is holding its first session in Astana today, with President Nursultan Nazarbayev attending. MPs will elect their authorities and consider a vote of confidence in the government.
Kazakhstan will start its third decade of independence with political modernization, Nazarbayev said at the opening, News Kazakhstan reports.
The president reminded that the multi-party parliament will have a lot of work to do to fulfill promises given to people. Coordinated work of the parliament government and president resulted in success in the last 20 years, Nazarbayev reminds.
In his new annual message, President Nursultan Nazarbayev wants to announce major economic reforms for the next 5 years. More attention will be paid to improvement of culture, education, formation of new Kazakh intellectuals. Ethnic and confessional harmony will continue undergoing enforcement.
Kazakhstan held off-year parliamentary polls on January 15. Nur Otan of President Nazarbayev, the Democratic Party “Ak Zhol” and the Communist Party entered the parliament. The parties got 98 out of 107 parliamentary seats. The rest were taken by people elected by the Kazakh People’s Assembly.
Nur Otan got 83 mandates, Ak Zhol – 8, Communists – 7. Dariga Nazarbayeva, the president’s older daughter, Minister for Environmental Protection Nurgali Ashim, Governors of the Akmolinsk and West Kazakh Regions Sergey Dyachenko and Baktykhozha Izmukhambetov are among the new MPs.
According to the law, the new prime minister will have a confidence vote for the government. Positive vote will allow the new government to work, unless the president has a different decision. The first session will also elect a speaker, his deputy and chairmen of committees.
