ALMATY, Kazakhstan, Aug 23, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Kazakhstan will on Sunday elect a new unicameral parliament following changes to its constitution that authorities say will democratise Central Asia's largest economy, but critics slam the move as cementing the president's power.

Ex-Soviet Kazakhstan is an ally of Russia and maintains close ties with China, but its vast natural resources and strategic location between Europe and Asia mean it is also an important partner for the European Union.

Around 12.6 million of the country's 20-million population are eligible to vote.

The country adopted a new constitution in March which abolished the upper house Senate in favour of a one-body parliament -- known as the kurultai, a reference to medieval councils of the nomadic people that lived across Central Asia.

Officials say the change will give the body more weight in political decision-making, having been confined to a largely auxiliary role under a system where power is concentrated in the presidency.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who came to power in 2019, has talked up a reform programme -- called "Just Kazakhstan" -- since 238 people died in 2022 riots after cost-of-living protests escalated.

The 73-year-old says he is trying to move on from his authoritarian predecessor, the eccentric Nursultan Nazarbayev, who ruled the country for three decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

However, only seven state-approved parties -- all more or less loyal to Tokayev -- have been permitted to field candidates in Sunday's vote.

Genuine opposition groups have been banned.

There is no doubt about the result, with the pro-Tokayev party Adilet set to scoop the vast majority of the 145 seats.

The party is effectively a rebrand of the current ruling party, Amanat, created specifically to support Tokayev's agenda.

The constitutional changes also reset term limits that would otherwise have been imposed on Tokayev, enabling him to run again in 2029 -- although he has said he does not intend to stay in office beyond then.