CA-NEWS (KZ) - Candidacy of Nurlan Nigmatullin was suggested for the position of the Mazhilis (lower chamber of the Parliament) Speaker, Newskaz.ru reported from the first session of the newly formed Parliament held in Astana.

Before being elected to the Mazhilis, Nigmatullin was first vice chairman of the Nur Otan party. He served as Vice Minister of Transport and Communications, Vice Head of the Presidential Administration, Governor of Karaganda oblast.

The early Mazhilis elections were held on January 15. The new 107-member Mazhilis comprises of three parties: Nur Otan party, Ak Zhol and National Communistic Party. 98 mazhilismen were elected on the bas of party slates, the other 9 were appointed by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (advisory body answerable to President).

Nur Otan holds 83 mandates, Ak Zhol holds 8 and the National Communistic Party has the other 7. Among the mazhilismen representing Nur Otan party, there are: President's eldest daughter Dariga Nazarbaeva, governor of Akmolinsk region Sergey Dyachenko and governor of West Kazakhstan region Baktykozha Izmukhambetov.