Local representative government may be renewed ahead of schedule. The President discussed the early termination of the powers of maslikhats at all levels – from district to regional. The grounds for further action will now be determined by the decision adopted by the Head of State.

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held consultations with Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Chairman of the Kurultai Aibek Dadebay on the early termination of the powers of maslikhats at all levels.

The Head of State noted that maslikhats must fully represent the legitimate interests of citizens, approve local budgets, and oversee regional development. In his view, renewing the deputy corps will enhance the effectiveness of local representative bodies.

According to the Presidential Press Service, the Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Kurultai presented their proposals. The Head of State stated that he would make a decision taking into account the opinions expressed and constitutional requirements.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev raised the issue of early termination of the powers of local representative bodies on September 24 at the first session of the Kazakhstan People's Council, explaining the initiative by changes in the party system.

– The overwhelming majority of maslikhat deputies were elected from the Amanat party. Currently, this party does not carry out independent activities, as it has merged with the «Әділет» party.

The legal procedures will be completed shortly, and from that moment the question of the legitimacy of the majority of the deputy corps of maslikhats will arise. However, it is important that maslikhats can fully perform their functions of representing the interests of citizens at the local level, approving budgets, and overseeing regional development," said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Maslikhats represent the interests of residents at the local level, approve budgets, and participate in overseeing regional development. The early termination of their powers will require holding early elections.

The procedure for scheduling them is defined by the Constitutional Law "On Elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan." After the adoption of the corresponding decision by the President, the Central Election Commission must schedule early elections no later than two months from the day the deputies' powers are terminated.

Preparations for a possible election campaign are already accompanied by changes in the rules for determining the size of the deputy corps.

The Central Election Commission adopted a resolution adjusting the procedure for calculating the number of maslikhat deputies depending on population size. If a region has a population of up to 300,000 people, the maslikhat must have at least 26 deputies. For every subsequent 200,000 residents, two more mandates are added. In Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent, with a population of up to 1.1 million people, there must be at least 30 deputies. For every additional 200,000 residents, the number of mandates increases by two.

In cities with a population of up to 50,000 people, the maslikhat must consist of at least 11 deputies. For every subsequent 25,000 residents, one mandate is added. In districts with a population of up to 15,000 people, at least ten deputies are provided for. For every additional 15,000 residents, one more mandate is added.

The changes also affected certain cities. In Aktobe, the number of deputy seats was reduced from 32 to 30, in Taraz it was increased from 27 to 28, and in Semey it was reduced from 23 to 22. For the city of Alatau, 11 deputy seats are provided for.

When calculating the number of deputies, official population data published no later than the date of the election announcement will be used. These rules do not apply if the boundaries of administrative-territorial units change as a result of their merger, division, or transformation.

Another decision related to the interaction of representative bodies was adopted on October 7. The Kurultai approved the creation of a Council for Interaction with Maslikhats. The Council is expected to collect proposals from regional deputies on improving legislation, study issues of its application, and generalize the practice of local governance. Its composition is planned to include deputies of the standing committees of the Kurultai, representatives of political parties and state bodies, as well as chairmen of regional maslikhats and the maslikhats of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent.

It is worth noting that the upcoming campaign will be the ninth in the history of maslikhat elections in independent Kazakhstan. The first elections were held on March 7, 1994, after which deputies of local representative bodies were elected in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2012, 2016, 2021, and 2023. The last nationwide election campaign took place on March 19, 2023, following the early termination of maslikhat powers in January of that year.

Linarа SAKTAGANOVA
Astana