Prime Minister of Kazakhstan

Prime Minister of Kazakhstan is the head of the Government of Kazakhstan, which is the highest executive body in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The position was established upon the country's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, succeeding the role of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR. Appointed by the President of Kazakhstan with the consent of the Mäjilis, the Prime Minister oversees the administration of the Constitution of Kazakhstan and the implementation of laws passed by the Parliament of Kazakhstan.

History

The office has its origins in the executive structures of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, where the head of government was known as the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. Following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Act of Independence of Kazakhstan in 1991, the position was reconstituted as Prime Minister. The first holder, Sergey Tereshchenko, led the government during the challenging early years of transition. Key historical periods include the lengthy tenure of Karaganda native Kärim Mäsimov and the significant political changes following the 2019 Kazakh presidential election and the 2022 Kazakh unrest, which saw rapid turnover in the office. The constitutional reforms initiated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, approved by 2022 Kazakh constitutional referendum, have subsequently altered the balance of power between the presidency and the government.

Appointment and role

The Prime Minister is nominated by the President of Kazakhstan and must then be approved by a majority vote in the Mäjilis, the lower house of the Parliament of Kazakhstan. If the Mäjilis rejects the President's nominee three times, the President may dissolve the chamber and call for new elections. Upon appointment, the Prime Minister forms the Cabinet of Ministers, nominating members for presidential approval. The role is constitutionally defined as leading the Government's activities, organizing the work of the Supreme Audit Chamber, and ensuring the execution of the national budget. The Prime Minister also represents Kazakhstan in international forums like the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council and is a key member of the Security Council of Kazakhstan.

List of prime ministers

Since independence, Kazakhstan has had multiple prime ministers, with several serving non-consecutive terms. The longest-serving is Kärim Mäsimov, who held the office from 2007 to 2012 and again from 2014 to 2016, later becoming Chairman of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan. Other notable figures include Akezhan Kazhegeldin, who served in the 1990s, and Bakhytzhan Sagintayev. The appointment of Älihan Smaiylov in 2022 marked a shift following the January 2022 unrest in Kazakhstan. The current Prime Minister, Oljas Bektenov, a former head of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan, was appointed in February 2024, succeeding Smaiylov.

Powers and duties

Constitutionally, the Prime Minister signs Government resolutions and decrees, which have force throughout the territory of Kazakhstan. Key duties include developing the main directions of the country's socio-economic policy, submitting the Republican budget to the Parliament of Kazakhstan, and ensuring its execution. The Prime Minister oversees the work of all ministries, such as the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of National Economy, and state agencies like the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan. They are responsible for implementing the foreign policy outlined by the President and coordinating the activities of local executive bodies, the akims.

Relationship with other institutions

The Prime Minister operates within a strong presidential system defined by the Constitution of Kazakhstan. The Government is accountable to the President, who has the authority to dismiss the Prime Minister and the entire Cabinet at any time. The Prime Minister presents an annual report on Government performance to the joint chambers of Parliament, the Senate of Kazakhstan and the Mäjilis. While the Government executes the law, legislative initiative primarily rests with the President and members of Parliament. The Prime Minister also works closely with key advisory bodies like the Nur Otan party (now Amanat) and the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan, and interacts with the Constitutional Council of Kazakhstan and the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan on matters of legal interpretation and judicial review.

Category:Prime Ministers of Kazakhstan Category:Government of Kazakhstan Category:1991 establishments in Kazakhstan