An expert platform session titled “Saylau-2026: Results and the Beginning of a New Political Era” was held in Astana, focusing on the results of the first Kurultai elections and the further transformation of Kazakhstan’s political system. The event was organized by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KazISS).

The discussion brought together Kazakhstani and international political scientists, experts in electoral processes, representatives of research centers, and public observers.

During two thematic sessions, participants discussed election monitoring results, voter turnout, the specifics of the electoral campaign, voting outcomes, and the key tasks facing the new Kurultai.

Aigul Sadvokassova, Director General of the Institute for Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies (IPhPR), spoke during the second session. She analyzed the logic behind voters’ choices, comparing the dynamics of party ratings with preliminary voting results.

Aigul Sadvokassova noted that the campaign took place under fundamentally new political conditions and was accompanied by several waves of sociological research. With the Adilet party maintaining a stable lead, the main intrigue concerned the distribution of subsequent positions and whether political forces would overcome the 5% electoral threshold. At the same time, the share of undecided voters steadily declined throughout the campaign.