ad of government: Prime Minister Nurlan BALGIMBAYEV (since 10
October 1997) and First Deputy Prime Minister Uraz ZHANDOSOV (since
20 February 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 10 January 1999, a year before it was previously
scheduled (next to be held NA 2006); note--President NAZARBAYEV's
previous term had been extended to 2000 by a nationwide referendum
held 30 April 1995; prime minister and first deputy prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV elected president; percent
of vote--Nursultan NAZARBAYEV 82%, Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN 12%
note: President NAZARBAYEV expanded his presidential powers by
decree: only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and
dismiss the government, dissolve Parliament, call referenda at his
discretion, and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(47 seats; 7 senators are appointed by the president; other members
are popularly elected, two from each oblast and Almaty, to serve
four-year terms) and the Majilis (67 seats; members are popularly
elected to serve four-year terms); note--with the oblasts being
reduced to 14, the Senate will eventually be reduced to 37
elections: Senate--(indirect) last held 5 December 1995 (next to be
held NA 1999); Majilis--last held 9 December and 23 December 1995
(next to be held NA 1999)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--party members 13, no party affiliation 34, of which
"independent" state officials 25, nominated by the president 7,
elected by popular vote 15; Majilis--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--PUP 24, December National Democratic Party 12,
Kazakhstan Agrarian Union 5, Confederation of Kazakh Trade Unions 5,
KPK 2, independents and others 19

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional
Council (7 members)

Political parties and leaders: People's Unity Party or PUP (was

Political pressure groups and leaders: Independent Trade Union
chairman]

International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer),
OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNE