Reforms taking place in
Kazakhstan in recent years gave an impetus for the development of a new
political culture in the country. The outcomes of the political modernization
process affect Kazakh citizens, enabling them to move forward in a more dynamic
and socially expressive format today when everyone’s opinion is not only
important but also taken into account in decision-making. According to the members
of the Kazakh Parliament, legal literacy and activity are true indicators of
democratic transformations, which were mentioned by President Kassym-Jomart
Tokayev in his interview published in the Egemen Qazaqstan newspaper. According
to Mazhilis Member Pavel Kazantsev, in his interview, the Head of State
outlined a course for the future, establishing specific actions and priorities
for the further development of the state, particularly, for the Parliament.
Moreover, the transformation of citizens’ political mentality, a result of
President Tokayev’s reforms, is evident during meetings between MPs and the
population. Nowadays Kazakh citizens can strongly defend their rights while
being ready for changes and transformations in the country, Kazantsev notes.
“A Kazakh citizen today is
notably different from one two years ago, or even a year ago. Over the course
of just over a year since the designation of political reforms, extensive
organizational and political work has been undertaken. Representative bodies
underwent restructuring, and elections took place in the Mazhilis, the Senate
and the Maslikhats. This serves as a response to the societal demands that
existed. It provides a guiding point for work, for community members, and for
the government - it is an instruction for action,” said Pavel Kazantsev, Member
of the Mazhilis, the Lower House of the Kazakh Parliament.
