The First Bektenov Government (; ) was the 19th government of Kazakhstan under the leadership of Prime Minister Oljas Bektenov. The government was formed on 6 February 2024, after Bektenov was appointed as the PM by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and received parliamentary approval, succeeding the previous cabinet led by Älihan Smaiylov. The initial composition of the cabinet featured four newly appointed ministers.
History Formation In late January 2024, news media outlets reported information from an insider source indicating that the government led by Prime Minister Älihan Smaiylov was on the brink of resignation. The likelihood of resignation was further corroborated by Senate Chairman Mäulen Äşimbaev during a press briefing on 1 February 2024, where he indicated that assessments of certain ministers' activities would be addressed at an expanded government meeting for 7 February. This development sparked speculation among pundits ahead of the expanded government meeting, while insiders hinted at possible ministerial resignations. Potential candidates speculated to succeed Smaiylov as PM included presidential advisor Kanat Bozumbayev, Zhenis Kassymbek and Erbolat Dosaev, the akims of Astana and Almaty, respectively, along with deputy prime ministers Roman Sklyar, Murat Nurtleu, Serik Jumanğarin, and Erulan Jamaubaev, as well as the Mäjilis chairman, Erlan Qoşanov.
On 5 February 2024, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev issued a decree dismissing Smaiylov's government and appointing Roman Sklyar as the acting prime minister.
On 6 February 2024, the ruling Amanat party chairman, Erlan Qoşanov, endorsed Oljas Bektenov for the position of prime minister. President Tokayev then nominated Bektenov for the post, receiving support from the Amanat, Auyl, Respublica, and Aq Jol factions during the plenary session of the lower house Mäjilis. However, the People's Party of Kazakhstan and Nationwide Social Democratic Party abstained from voting on Bektenov's candidacy, expressing concerns about his ability to fulfill tasks set by Tokayev and his inexperienced track record in implementing economic projects.
Parliamentary vote Bektenov was confirmed as prime minister by the Mäjilis deputies on 6 February 2024, and subsequently appointed by Tokayev through a presidential decree. Mäjilis confirmation, 6 February 2024ForAgainstAbstainedDid not voteVacant6907211Source: Parlam.kz
Dissolution In August 2026, on the day of the 2026 Kazakh legislative election, President Tokayev announced that the Bektenov Government would soon resign. He praised its continuing work, but noted that a government reshuffle would be necessary to achieve modernisation amid constitutional reform, which included the creation of a national unicameral legislature, the Kurultai, instead of the previously bicameral Parliament of Kazakhstan.
Assessment Just as the Bektenov Government was formed, Kazakh political scientist Dosym Satpaev remarked that not much is to be expected from it, stating that most of the Second Smaiylov Government is still intact anyway, and adding that the Government of Kazakhstan is, as always, as divided as it is in many other authoritarian states, and therefore does not affect the political process in the country much.
Near the dissolution of the Government in August 2026, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev assessed that the Bektenov Government "overall" worked "quite diligently and promptly, carrying out the tasks set by the head of state". He, however, stated that it was necessary for the Bektenov Government to resign in order to carry out further modernisation amid constitutional reform.
Composition The newly-formed government included mostly former ministers from previous cabinet, with only 4 out of 26 (15.3%) new faces: Prime Minister Oljas Bektenov, National Economy Minister Nurlan Baibazarov, Healthcare Minister Akmaral Alnazarova, Emergency Situation Minister Şyñğys Ärinov, and Finance Minister Mädi Takiev.
Because of poor regional management and the sudden melting of snow, a flood broke out in 10 different regions of Kazakhstan. Because of this, through the presidential decree of Tokayev, Kanat Bozumbayev was appointed as the 7th Deputy PM to Bektenov. During Bektenov's introduction of Bozumbayev to the rest of the cabinet, it was announced that Bozumbayev went to visit the Karaganda Region along the Emergency Situations Minister Şyñğys Ärinov to stabilize the situation. In December 2024, the number of Deputy PMs to Bektenov reduced to 6, as Nurlan Baibazarov resigned and was replaced by colleague Serik Jumanğarin.
PortfolioImageHolderTerm of officeStartEndHead of governmentPrime Minister<br/ >Oljas Bektenov6 February 202428 August 2026Deputy Prime Ministers First Deputy Prime Minister<br/ ><br/ >Roman Sklyar11 January 20225 May 2026Nurlybek Nalibaev6 May 202628 August 2026Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of Staff of the Government<br/ ><br/ >Galymjan Koishibaev4 January 202328 August 2026Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs<br/ ><br/ >Murat Nurtleu3 April 202326 September 2025Deputy Prime Minister<br/ ><br/ >Tamara Düisenova8 June 202314 February 2025Deputy Prime Minister<br/ ><br/ >Serik Jumanğarin2 September 202228 August 2026Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital DevelopmentJaslan Mädiev29 September 202528 August 2026Deputy Prime MinisterAida Balaeva1 December 202528 August 2026Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of National Economy<br/ ><br/ >Nurlan Baibazarov6 February 202421 December 2024Serik Jumanğarin21 December 202428 August 2026Deputy Prime Minister<br/ ><br/ >Kanat Bozumbayev31 March 202428 August 2026Government ministersMinister of Defence<br/ ><br/ >Ruslan Jaqsylyqov6 February 20248 June 2025Däuren Qosanov8 June 202528 August 2026Minister of Foreign Affairs<br/ ><br/ >Ermek Köşerbaev26 September 202528 August 2026Minister of Internal Affairs<br/ ><br/ >Erjan Sädenov2 September 202328 August 2026Minister of Agriculture<br/ ><br/ >Aidarbek Saparov 4 September 202328 August 2026Minister of Justice<br/ ><br/ >Azamat Esqaraev4 January 20239 January 2025 Erlan Särsembaev9 January 2025 28 August 2026Minister of EducationĞani Beisembaev4 January 202329 September 2025Juldyz Süleimenova29 September 202528 August 2026Minister of Science and Higher Education<br/ ><br/ >Saiasat Nurbek11 June 202228 August 2026Minister of Healthcare<br/ ><br/ >Akmaral Alnazarova6 February 202428 August 2026Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population<br/ ><br/ >Svetlana Jaqypova4 September 202327 January 2026Asqarbek Ertaev27 January 202628 August 2026Minister of Transport<br/ ><br/ >Marat Qarabayev6 February 20248 June 2025Nurlan Sauranbaev8 June 202528 August 2026Minister of Finance<br/ ><br/ >Mädi Takiev6 February 202428 August 2026Minister of Culture and Information<br/ ><br/ >Aida Balaeva6 February 202428 August 2026Minister of Trade and Integration<br/ ><br/ >Arman Şaqqaliev6 February 202428 August 2026Minister of Industry and ConstructionQanat Şarlapaev6 February 202428 February 2025Ersaiyn Nağaspaev28 February 202528 August 2026Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation<br/ ><br/ >Nurjan Nurjıgıtov6 February 202428 August 2026Minister of Emergency Situations<br/ ><br/ >Şyñğys Ärinov6 February 202428 August 2026Minister of Tourism and Sports<br/ ><br/ >Ermek Marjyqpaev6 February 202431 August 2024Erbol Myrzabosynov2 September 202428 August 2026Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry<br/ ><br/ >Bağdat Musin6 February 202430 April 2024Jaslan Mädiev6 May 202429 September 2025Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital DevelopmentJaslan Mädiev29 September 202528 August 2026Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources<br/ ><br/ >Erlan Nysanbaev6 February 202428 August 2026Minister of Energy<br/ ><br/ >Almasadam Sätqaliev6 February 202418 March 2025Erlan Aqkenjenov19 March 202528 August 2026
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