Maulen Ashimbayev
The speech by President Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev at the final joint session of the chambers of Parliament was truly an event of historic proportions.
An entire era in the development of independent Kazakhstan is ending, and simultaneously, a fundamentally new chapter in our statehood is opening. The country's new Constitution is coming into force, and with it, the architecture of state power is being renewed.
Thirty years ago, the first professional Parliament was formed in Kazakhstan. Throughout these years, as the President emphasized, the legislative body has played a vital role in strengthening statehood, establishing a national legal framework, and developing a market economy. Over the past three decades, approximately 3,500 laws have been adopted, with every tenth of them initiated by the deputies themselves.
Parliament has united professionals from a wide range of fields to address national challenges. I would especially like to emphasize that the development of a high parliamentary culture is largely due to the personal contribution of Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev, who twice chaired the Senate of Parliament. The Head of State's deep understanding of legislative principles, high legal culture, and extensive parliamentary experience have largely determined the current standards of legislative work.
The President expressed gratitude to the deputies of the Mazhilis and Senate of all convocations for their conscientious and responsible service to the country and their contribution to the development of Kazakhstan's parliamentarism.
Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev singled out the current composition of Parliament, calling it one of the strongest in Kazakhstan's recent history. This is a high assessment of the deputy corps' work in providing legislative support for large-scale political and socioeconomic reforms.
But time does not stand still. Public demand and the new stage of the country's development require the creation of a supreme representative body of a new format and with broad powers.
The bicameral Parliament is being replaced by a unicameral Kurultai, which will strengthen the system of checks and balances and increase the efficiency of the entire public administration system.
In his speech, the Head of State outlined five key areas for the country's further development. Each of these reflects the logic of a new stage of Kazakhstan's modernization.
The first area is the formation of a new architecture of state power. As noted, the parliamentary corps made a significant contribution both to the adoption of the new Constitution and to the development and adoption of a number of laws, including six constitutional laws. As a result, the basic formula of "Strong President - Influential Kurultai - Accountable Government" has found full institutional embodiment.
The second area is the transition to a new economic model. The new Budget and Tax Codes adopted by Parliament, as the Head of State emphasized, have completely rebooted the entire public finance management system. Today, the country is entering a new investment cycle, designed to become the engine of economic diversification.
The third and fourth areas, according to the President, are strengthening the country's energy and infrastructure framework, as well as creating a fully digital state. The Digital Code and the Law "On Artificial Intelligence" adopted by Parliament lay the legal foundation for Kazakhstan's digital transformation.
The fifth area is the development of human capital. Over 19 trillion tenge allocated this year for science, education, healthcare, culture, and social support constitutes more than half of the entire state budget. The "National Fund for Children" program, the "Keleshek" savings system, new schools and medical facilities, and increased salaries for teachers and doctors are all concrete steps toward building a Fair Kazakhstan, where caring for people is not just a slogan, but a real priority of state policy.
I would like to specifically highlight the President's words about Parliament becoming a focal point for many scientists, experts, and civil society activists to discuss important legislative initiatives. The Senate's Experts Club has facilitated productive dialogue and comprehensive review of draft laws over the past few years, helping members of parliament make informed and well-considered decisions.
The head of state emphasized that the entry into force of the new Constitution is a historic event that directly impacts the future of the nation. This is not simply an updated legal document, but a new social contract, a new stage in the development of statehood, opening the way to large-scale socio-political transformations and new achievements.
Therefore, today, as the country enters a qualitatively new stage of its development, it is crucial for all progressive socio-political forces to unite around the Head of State's policy of building a Just Kazakhstan. The new Constitution opens up broad opportunities for our country's further development.
Photo-Akorda.kz
