ASTANA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan's new unicameral parliament, the Kurultai, held its first session on Friday in Astana, the Kazinform news agency reported.
Aibek Dadebay, leader of Kazakhstan's ruling Adilet Party, was elected speaker of the Kurultai, Kazinform said.
Kazakhstan's Central Election Commission (CEC) officially determined the composition of the first convocation of the Kurultai on Thursday, registering 145 deputies from five political parties following elections held Sunday, where voter turnout reached 74.08 percent.
The new parliament will approve presidential nominees for vice president, prime minister, judges of the Constitutional Court, members of the CEC and the Supreme Audit Chamber. It will also elect Supreme Court judges upon the president's recommendation.
Kazakhstan's new Constitution, which took effect on July 1, provides for the establishment of the 145-member unicameral parliament, with lawmakers serving five-year terms. Previously, Kazakhstan had a bicameral parliament consisting of the Mazhilis, or the lower house, and the Senate. ■