At its second plenary session, the Kurultai began forming its own legislative practice. Deputies determined the procedure for reviewing draft laws, solidified mechanisms for the work of the parliamentary opposition, and brought forward issues of digital security and liability for unlawful content for discussion.

One of the first deputies of the Kurultai to speak with an inquiry at the plenary session was Zhanarbek Ashimzhanov, who proposed specifying the mechanism for restricting the registration of children under 16 on social networks.

The deputy noted that social networks influence teenagers' worldviews no less than family and school, and that the issue had been repeatedly raised by constituents during meetings.

– According to the results of a study conducted in 2023 jointly with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), social media accounts are registered to 60 percent of children aged nine to ten and 66 percent of children aged 11-12 in Kazakhstan. At the same time, 88 percent of children have their own smartphone and freely use the most popular platforms – TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. This indicates a high degree of involvement of children in the digital environment, while parental control remains insufficient, – said Zhanarbek Ashimzhanov.

At the same time, he believes that the problem lies not only in what content a child may see. Active use of digital devices, according to him, also affects the daily lives of teenagers.

– Excessive engagement with social networks reduces the time allocated to reading books, sports, and communication with family. As a result, concentration, depth of information perception, and critical thinking are significantly reduced, – noted the deputy.

He also recalled that in 2026, legislative restrictions on the age of social media use have already been introduced in 25 countries.

In this regard, Zhanarbek Ashimzhanov proposed defining a specific mechanism for restricting the registration of children under 16, ensuring the security of their personal digital data, and introducing systematic digital hygiene education in schools.

Another initiative voiced in the new Parliament concerns the content of live streams on social networks. Deputy Zharkynbek Amantaiuly proposed legislatively defining the concept of "trash streaming" and tightening liability for the promotion of violence, dangerous pranks, insults, and deliberate provocative actions in live broadcasts.

In his opinion, live streams are increasingly acquiring a commercial character, and the desire to attract an audience is accompanied by obscene language, insults, and actions that affect people's honor and dignity.

– Some streamers deliberately stage scandals to attract an audience. They mock people and insult them. Moreover, indecent acts are increasingly being committed in live broadcasts. And at that time, thousands of people of various ages may be watching what is happening, – said Zharkynbek Amantaiuly.

The deputy proposed working jointly with TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and other platforms to develop a mechanism for the prompt detection and blocking of unlawful live streams, as well as the identification of their authors.

He also considers it necessary to strengthen the protection of citizens who are broadcast without their consent, including in cases of harm to their honor and dignity. In addition, the deputy proposed creating a unified state system for monitoring unlawful content in live streams and social networks, with information about the results of its work open to society. At the same time, he emphasized that the proposed measures should not restrict freedom of speech. In his opinion, the point is a clear distinction between freedom of expression and liability for unlawful actions.

It should be noted that the initiatives outlined by the deputies will be considered by the Kurultai in accordance with the newly approved rules of procedure.

At the plenary session, the deputies adopted the rules of procedure, which determine the procedure for organizing the work of the legislative body, holding sessions, hearings and government hours, as well as the legislative process and the activities of deputy associations.

One of the provisions of the document was the consolidation of the status of the parliamentary majority and opposition.

The parliamentary majority is recognized as the political party that received the largest number of deputy mandates. In the first convocation, this is the "Adilet" party, represented by 110 out of 145 deputies.

The parliamentary opposition may be formed by one or several political parties represented in the Kurultai and not part of the majority. At the same time, on certain issues, the opposition has the right to support the position of the majority.

Deputy Snezhanna Imasheva, presenting the provisions of the rules of procedure, emphasized that the status of the opposition is accompanied by specific procedural opportunities.

– Political parties represented in the Kurultai and not part of the majority may form a parliamentary opposition. The opposition has the right to initiate hearings at least once during a session. In addition, it has the right to determine the agenda of a government hour at least twice per session. Representation of the opposition in the leadership of standing committees is also envisaged. This creates institutional opportunities not only for presenting an alternative position, but also for its real inclusion in the parliamentary agenda, – explained the deputy.

Along with this, the rules of procedure also determined the procedure for the passage of draft laws. In the Kurultai, they will be considered in three readings. The exception will be draft laws on the ratification and denunciation of international treaties. For these, two readings are envisaged.

In the first reading, deputies will discuss the concept of the draft law, its goals, objectives and main provisions, compliance with state policy, as well as possible socio-economic, legal, environmental and other consequences.

After the report of the initiator, deputies will be able to ask questions. Then the head of the working group will present the conclusion of the lead committee, after which debates will take place. Based on the results, the Kurultai may approve the draft law in the first reading, return it for revision, or reject it.

After the first reading, deputies, standing committees and party factions will be able to submit amendments. These will be compiled into a comparative table.

Amendments that reduce state revenues or increase its expenditures may be included in it only with a positive conclusion from the Government.

In the second reading, the Kurultai will consider the amendments already proposed. Deputies will be able to ask questions, but debates, as a rule, will not be held. Based on the results, the draft law may be approved, sent for revision, or rejected.

The third reading, as a rule, must take place no later than 15 working days after the second, excluding time between sessions.

After the second reading, it is no longer possible to substantially change the content of the draft law. The working group will be able to make only amendments necessary to bring the text into compliance with the Constitution and other laws, eliminate gaps and contradictions, observe legal technique, and ensure compliance of the texts in the Kazakh and Russian languages.

In the third reading, deputies will consider written amendments included in the comparative table of the lead committee. Questions to the rapporteur and debates are no longer envisaged. After this, the Kurultai will adopt the law, return the draft for revision, or reject it.

The rules of procedure also determine the further procedure after the adoption of the law. Within ten days, it is sent to the President. The Head of State must sign and promulgate the law within a month or return it in whole or in part for repeated discussion and voting.

If the President returns the law with objections, the Kurultai must reconsider them within a month. Overcoming the objections will require at least two-thirds of the votes of the total number of deputies, and for constitutional laws – at least three-quarters.

If the Kurultai overcomes the objections, the Head of State must sign the law within a month. If the required number of votes is not gathered, the law will be considered not adopted or adopted in the version proposed by the President.

The new rules of procedure concern not only the passage of laws. A specific region of Kazakhstan will be assigned to each deputy of the Kurultai. As reported by the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Legislation, the Judicial System and Law Enforcement Agencies, Konstantin Petrov, during a session, each deputy must travel to the assigned region at least twice.

– The rules of procedure of the Kurultai itself stipulate in Article 8 that there must be at least two trips to the regions during a session. That is, in the period from the beginning of September to the end of June, each deputy will travel to the regions at least twice. People will know which deputies are assigned to which region, – noted Konstantin Petrov.

The parties will handle the distribution of deputies by region; meetings with residents may take place in various formats.

– Naturally, we will meet in various forms. This will include personal receptions and meetings with labor collectives. There are no restrictions here, – he added.

Separate rules have also been established for the behavior of the parliamentarians themselves. Deputy Chairman of the Kurultai Daniya Yespayeva spoke about the requirements of deputy ethics.

Violations, in particular, will include unfounded remarks addressed to speakers, as well as insults affecting the honor and dignity of deputies or other persons. These requirements apply not only to sessions of the Kurultai, the work of deputy groups and other bodies, but also to the behavior of deputies outside the legislative body.

Special requirements are established for interaction with the media. In their speeches, answers and interviews, deputies must provide verified and reliable information.

– Simply saying that something is not being fulfilled or citing some facts, and at the same time they are not reliable – this will also constitute a violation of deputy ethics, – noted Daniya Yespayeva.

A Council on Deputy Ethics will be created to consider complaints about violations. It will consider appeals from individuals and legal entities, as well as engage in explanatory work.

Linarа SAKTAGANOVA
Astana