Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has officially appointed the country’s new government, led again by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, who has been in post since 2024. Most ministers have retained their posts, except for those responsible for foreign affairs, natural resources, culture and information, as well as emergency situations, signalling policy continuity. In parallel, former Presidential Advisor Yerlan Karin was appointed as Vice President after a constitutional referendum earlier this year which reinstated the position.
The formation of the new cabinet comes after parliamentary elections on 23rd August, which resulted in a constitutional majority for the pro-Presidential Ädilet, the country’s new ruling party and the political successor of the long-time ruling Amanat. Ädilet secured more than 71% of the popular vote and 110 of the 145 members of the Kurultai, the country’s unicameral legislature. Four other formations passed the threshold to enter parliament, all of which are aligned with the President. The Kurultai is also the result of the recent constitutional referendum, which abolished the bicameral legislature and created a proportional election system.
Ädilet’s constitutional majority and the prompt formation of the new cabinet will mean a smoother passage of Presidential and governmental initiatives. The overall regulatory direction is expected to be centred around modernization efforts, including support for digitalization, investment, localization and entrepreneurship, combined with stronger oversight, fiscal discipline, consumer protection and social and environmental responsibility requirements. Sustainable economic growth is also among the core objectives, as signalled by the first session of the new government held on 8th September.
While Tokayev was recently confirmed by the Constitutional Court as eligible for re-election in the November 2029 election, an early Presidential election ahead of the scheduled vote is not impossible if the government’s flagship economic pledge to double GDP growth by 2029 becomes unsustainable amidst current macro-financial conditions. Accordingly, securing a fresh mandate would allow the leadership to reset expectations and reconsider economic policy objectives.
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