The first elections to the Kurultai, currently taking place in Kazakhstan, mark another important step in the country’s large-scale reform process. Washington-based experts say the international community is particularly interested in the transition from a bicameral to a unicameral system. According to Andrew D'Anieri, Associate Director at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, the new legislative model will make decision-making in the country more efficient and consistent, strengthen the representation of citizens’ interests, and, overall, increase transparency in the work of the new parliament.
«I hope that going from two legislative bodies down to
one can help make governments in Kazakhstan more efficient. I think
internationally observers are really interested in the position of vice
president that was provided for in some of the new constitutional changes. So,
I think the most important element of going from a bicameral system to a
unicameral system is that these changes, these reforms create a government and
a legislative body that is more responsive to and representative of the Kazakh
people,» D'Anieri said.
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