President Tokayev appoints new prime minister of Kazakhstan

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appointed Olzhas Bektenov, former head of the presidential administration, as the new prime minister of Kazakhstan. Bektenov’s nomination was supported by 69 MPs, while seven MPs abstained from voting.

Today, on February 6, President Tokayev took part in the Mazhilis session where he officially nominated Bektenov for the post of the country’s prime minister.

«I am proposing Olzhas Bektenov as the candidate for the post of prime minister. He’s been nominated by the Amanat party. This is an experienced public servant, a well-educated and hard-working person with good organizational skills. This is why I think he has enough energy to deliver all tasks that have been set,» the president said.

MPs from the NPK and OSDP political parties restrained from voting for Bektenov’s nomination, while the Respublica, Ak Zhol and Auyl parties have supported the nomination. In absolute figures, 79 MPs voted for Bektenov’s nomination, while seven MPs abstained from voting.

President Tokayev has officially appointed the new prime minister right after the voting.

«By the president’s edict, Olzhas Bektenov has been appointed as the new prime minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan; he’s been dismissed from his previous position,» the Akorda (official residence of Kazakhstan’s president) said in a statement.

As Tokayev highlighted, he is expecting the new cabinet to be decisive in decision-making, comply with the principles of the Faire Kazakhstan, boost the country’s development and take concrete steps.

«Congratulations to Olzhas Bektenov. I wish you good luck with your service. As a president, I keep an eye on MPs’ work. Fairly speaking, I am happy with the Mazhilis. We are going to prepare new approaches. I think the cabinet needs new impetus. Our society is expecting that. This is why I’ve accepted the resignation of Alikhan Smailov,» Tokayev said.

He also emphasized that bold decisions are needed along with political reforms in the economic life of the country.

«The cabinet must take concrete steps. We need actions, not words. This is exactly what we need for the further development of our country. A new Tax Code, new Budget Code, new legislation for public procurement – all these documents must get a new shape. All of this will be targeted at the implementation of our political goal,» he highlighted.

What do we know about the new prime minister? Olzhas Bektenov was born in 1980 in Almaty. He graduated from the Kazakh State Law Academy and over his career worked in different public agencies such as the Department of Justice of Almaty, the law division of the prime minister’s office. He also served as deputy head of the Committee of Registration Service and Legal Assistance under the Ministry of Justice.

From 2016 to 2017, he worked as the head of the Astana Department of the Anti-Corruption Service.

From 2017 to 2018, he was deputy head for a governor of the Akmola region overseeing economic issues.

From 2018 to 2019, he was deputy head of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs and Anti-Corruption.

Currently, he is the head of the presidential administration.

The context. On February 5, President Tokayev dismissed the country’s cabinet and appointed Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar as the executive prime minister.

The president also instructed cabinet members to continue serving their duties until the new cabinet is formed.

There is no official explanation for dismissing the current cabinet.

Former Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov has already published a farewell letter on Facebook. He thanked Tokayev for his trust and support and said that the past two years were crucial for Kazakhstan’s society.

A new prime minister is expected to be appointed on February 7 during a broad cabinet meeting.

The last time Kazakhstan’s cabinet resigned was due to the parliamentary elections in March 2023.