Kazakhstan has once again placed its political transformation on the European parliamentary agenda. Senator of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Sultanbek Makezhanov took part in the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, using the platform to explain the country’s ongoing reforms and strengthen dialogue with European partners, DKNews.kz reports.
The session itself was marked by an important institutional change. PACE members elected Petra Bayr of Austria, representing the “Socialists, Democrats and Greens,” as the new President of the Assembly, setting the tone for renewed discussions on democracy, rights and parliamentary development.
First meeting with the new PACE President
During his visit, Sultanbek Makezhanov held a separate meeting with the newly elected President of PACE. The Kazakh senator conveyed official congratulations from the Chairperson of the Senate of Kazakhstan, Maulen Ashimbayev, on her election to the high office.
The conversation quickly moved beyond protocol. The sides discussed key areas of bilateral cooperation, including the possibility of holding joint events within the PACE framework and maintaining regular parliamentary dialogue.
Explaining Kazakhstan’s political reforms
A central part of the meeting was devoted to political reforms underway in Kazakhstan. Sultanbek Makezhanov gave a detailed overview of the changes, placing special emphasis on constitutional reform and the transition to a unicameral parliament.
The President of PACE showed particular interest in the new elements of Kazakhstan’s parliamentary reform. Topics such as the development of a multi-party system, interaction between Parliament and other branches of government, gender equality and the protection of women’s rights were discussed in detail. These issues resonate strongly with the broader European agenda, making the exchange especially relevant.
Human rights and economic development
The dialogue also touched on Kazakhstan’s cooperation with the United Nations in the field of human rights protection. In addition, special attention was paid to the country’s economic situation and efforts aimed at developing rural areas, an issue that remains crucial for balanced growth and social stability.
At the end of the meeting, Sultanbek Makezhanov invited the President of PACE to visit Kazakhstan at a time convenient for her, signaling readiness to continue the conversation on Kazakh soil.
Meetings across political groups
The Kazakh senator’s program at PACE included a series of other high-level contacts. Sultanbek Makezhanov met with Zsolt Németh, Chairperson of the PACE political group “European Conservatives, Patriots and Allies.” The discussion focused on the current agenda of the Assembly, parliamentary reform in Kazakhstan and prospects for further cooperation between Kazakhstan and PACE.
On the sidelines of the plenary session, separate meetings were held with Michael German of the “Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe,” as well as with a group of Lithuanian MPs led by the Chair of the national delegation to PACE, Birute Vėsaitė, and the doyen of the PACE parliamentary corps, Emanuelis Zingeris.
During these conversations, European парламентарians were informed about the progress of political transformations in Kazakhstan and the upcoming stages of parliamentary and constitutional reform.
Why this matters
Participation in the winter session of PACE allowed Kazakhstan to directly present its reform agenda to European lawmakers and answer questions in an open parliamentary format. Such dialogue helps reduce misconceptions, build trust and ensure that political changes in Kazakhstan are understood in their full context.
For Kazakhstan, the PACE platform remains an important channel for explaining domestic reforms, strengthening international parliamentary ties and demonstrating that political modernization is not just declared, but actively discussed with international partners.
