Under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Maulen Ashimbayev, a meeting of the Chamber was held, at which the senators considered a number of Laws and voiced deputy requests.
During the meeting, the senators considered and adopted the Law “On Amendments and Additions to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On the Republican Budget for 2023-2025”.
“Today we adopted the Law on the clarification of the republican budget for 2023, to which we made a number of amendments in order to implement the tasks set by the Head of State. Among them are the development of regions, the agricultural sector, energy, and the solution of social issues. An additional 240 billion tenge is allocated for the development of the infrastructure of the regions in addition to the previously allocated funds. These are, first of all, the development of rural areas, the provision of water to settlements, the development of urban outskirts. Accidents this winter revealed a high level of depreciation of thermal power facilities. In accordance with the instructions of the Head of State, an additional 144 billion tenge is allocated for the construction and reconstruction of the country's heat and power system. Another 233 billion tenge is allocated to support the agricultural sector. These funds will be used for preferential lending to investment projects in the agro-industrial complex,” Maulen Ashimbaev said, stressing that the tasks set must be completed in a quality manner and on time.
According to the Speaker of the Senate, the republican budget has a pronounced social orientation. Approximately half of government spending is traditionally directed to the social sphere. At the same time, in the revised budget, about 300 billion tenge are allocated additionally for the modernization of rural healthcare, providing citizens with medicines, building cultural and sports facilities in the regions, and increasing social benefits, including for people with disabilities.
Maulen Ashimbaev also named a number of key issues raised by the senators and requiring prompt solutions.
“First, tough measures are needed to curb inflation. We must learn to live within our means. There should be responsibility for the inefficient use of budgetary funds. All illegal cheating by intermediaries, corruption schemes are included in the price of goods and services for the population and must be stopped immediately. Secondly, solving infrastructure problems is one of the main responsibilities of government agencies. First of all, these are issues related to heat and power supply. In past years, for various reasons, appropriate decisions were not made in this area and funds were not allocated in a timely manner, which as a result led to accidents and emergencies. As a result, our citizens suffer. We urgently need to change this situation. And third, within the framework of existing programs, it is important to resolve the issue of business financing. It is necessary to increase lending to the real sector. At the same time, limit the growth of consumer loans. We hope that systematic work will be carried out in this direction in the coming period,” concluded the Speaker of the Senate.
The deputies also adopted the Constitutional Law “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Constitutional Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Administrative Reform” and the Law “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Administrative Reform”. The laws are aimed at improving the public administration system by decentralizing the powers of central state bodies.
In particular, the competence of the Government for the implementation of structural and investment policy, the formation of state policy for the development of culture, education, healthcare, tourism and sports, as well as in connection with the transformation of the Office of the Prime Minister into the Government Office, etc. are excluded. From the central state bodies to the local executive bodies, the Law transfers 21 functions aimed at resolving issues of local importance.
According to the deputies, the adopted Laws will make it possible to strengthen the flexibility, efficiency and independence of central state bodies in making decisions in regulated areas. Thus, the autonomy of public administration increases and the personal responsibility of the heads of state bodies increases.
Based on the results of two readings at a meeting of the Senate, the deputies considered and adopted in an updated version the Social Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan and three accompanying laws: the Constitutional Law “On Amendments to Certain Constitutional Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan”, as well as the Laws “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Social Security Issues” and “On Amendments to the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Administrative Offenses”.
“Social security is one of the key tasks of the state. Today we have adopted the Social Code and its accompanying Laws, which will form a new social and legal policy in this area. On behalf of the President of the country, a number of social mechanisms will be introduced to improve the welfare of citizens. In particular, the digital family card will be used to provide citizens with social guarantees in a proactive format. It is planned to improve the mechanisms of social support for families and the provision of special social assistance. Also included are provisions to expand access to special social services for persons with disabilities and strengthen their social protection. We believe that the adopted Laws will make a significant contribution to the solution of socially significant problems and the formation of a fair social policy,” Maulen Ashimbaev commented on the adopted Laws.
Along with this, the senators considered and ratified three international agreements. The Law “On ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Russian Federation on the sale and purchase of a part of the share of the Russian Federation in the paid authorized capital of the Eurasian Development Bank” is aimed at regulating certain issues of the Eurasian Development Bank’s activities.
The purpose of the next Law "On the ratification of the Treaty between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan on the demarcation of the Kazakh-Uzbek state border" is the international legal framework for the demarcation of the state border line between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
“The adopted law provides for the demarcation of the state border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Undoubtedly, it will contribute to the further strengthening of the strategic partnership and cooperation between the two fraternal countries,” said Maulen Ashimbaev.
The law “On ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Russian Federation on the establishment and functioning of branches of organizations of higher and postgraduate education of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Russian Federation and branches of educational organizations of higher education of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Kazakhstan”, according to deputies, allows opening branches in the country international educational institutions.
The Chairman of the Chamber also summed up the results of activities in connection with the performance by the Senate of the functions of the Parliament for the adoption of Laws and Constitutional Laws.
“According to the Constitution, during the temporary absence of the Mazhilis, the functions of the Parliament for the adoption of Constitutional Laws and Laws were entrusted to the Senate. During these two months, the Senate adopted 36 laws. Nine of them were developed at the initiative of deputies. In general, the Laws adopted during this period are aimed at the implementation of the tasks outlined by the President of the country and the solution of key tasks. I am sure that they will contribute to improving the welfare of citizens, ensuring the financial and social stability of the country, as well as improving the state legal policy,” concluded Maulen Ashimbaev.
The senators voiced their parliamentary requests during the meeting.
Bekbol Orynbasarov expressed concern for the health of the residents of the Beineu district, Mangystau region, living near the Aral Sea.
Arman Utegulov pointed out the importance of assisting farmers in the West Kazakhstan region in preserving their farmlands and protecting their crops from the saiga population.
Murat Kadyrbek outlined problems with financing the construction of infrastructure facilities in the Turkestan region.
(Press service of the Senate, 74-72-27. Courtesy of N. Baibulin)
