Erlan Jaqanūly Qoşanov (Kazakh: Ерлан Жақанұлы Қошанов, [jerˈɫɑn ʒɑq(χ)ɑnʊˈɫɤ qoˈʃɑnəf]; born 14 August 1962), sometimes romanized as Yerlan Koshanov, is a Kazakh politician who is serving as the member and chairman of the Mäjilis since 2022. Prior to that, he served as the Aqorda Chief of Staff under Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's administration from 2019 to 2022, äkim of Karaganda Region from 2017 to 2019 and the head of the Prime Minister's Office from 2012 to 2017.

Erlan Qoşanov
Ерлан Қошанов
Qoşanov in 2023
10th Chairman of the Mäjilis
Assumed office
1 February 2022
DeputyPavel Kazantsev
Balaim Kesebaeva
Preceded byNurlan Nigmatulin
Chief of Staff of the Executive Office
In office
18 September 2019 – 1 February 2022
PresidentNursultan Nazarbayev
First DeputyMäulen Äşimbaev
Dauren Abaev
Preceded byKrymbek Kusherbayev
Succeeded byMurat Nurtileu
Chief of Staff of the Office of the Prime Minister
In office
2 February 2012 – 14 March 2017
Prime MinisterKarim Massimov
Serik Akhmetov
Bakhytzhan Sagintayev
Preceded byKrymbek Kusherbayev
Succeeded byGabidolla Abdirahymov
Member of the Senate
In office
5 December 1995 – February 1999
Leader of Amanat in the Mäjilis
In office
14 February 2022 – 19 January 2023
LeaderKassym-Jomart Tokayev
Himself
Preceded byNurlan Nigmatulin
Succeeded byElnur Beisenbaev
Member of the Mäjilis
Assumed office
1 February 2022
Äkim of Karaganda Region
In office
14 March 2017 – 18 September 2019
Preceded byNurmuhambet Abdibekov
Succeeded byZhenis Kassymbek
Chairman of Amanat
Assumed office
26 April 2022
Preceded byKassym-Jomart Tokayev
Personal details
Born (1962-08-14) 14 August 1962 (age 62)
Aqsu-Aiuly, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union
(now Kazakhstan)
Political partyAmanat (1999–present)
Other political
affiliations
Democratic Party (1995–1996)
SpouseGüljan Abauova
Children2
Alma materKaraganda State Technical University
All-Russian Academy of Foreign Trade
Narxoz University

As a member of the ruling Amanat party, Qoşanov since 2022 has headed the party following Tokayev's brief leadership in response to Nursultan Nazarbayev's resignation after leading the formerly Nur Otan party.[1] While serving as deputy, Qoşanov headed the Amanat parliamentary group in the lower house Mäjilis during the 7th convocation until its dissolution in 2023.[2] Since then, Qoşanov continued serving in the 8th convocation of the Mäjilis as the chairman following his re-election to the post in March 2023.[3]

Biography

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Early life and education

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Qoşanov was born in the village of Aqsu-Aiuly, Karaganda Region. In 1984, he graduated from the Dzhezkazgan Branch of the Karaganda State Technical University with a degree in mechanical engineering and then in 1991, from the Higher Commercial School at the All-Russian Academy of Foreign Trade. In 1999, Qoşanov graduated from the Narxoz University with a degree in economics. He also served in the ranks of the Soviet Army.[4]

Early career

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From 1986 to 1988, Qoşanov worked as a mechanic, then as a foreman at the Dzhezkazgantsvetmet concentration plant. In 1988, he became an instructor of the Dzhezkazgan Regional Committee of the Lenin Communist Youth Union of Kazakhstan. From 1990, Qoşanov was the leading, chief specialist, head of department, deputy chairman, and then the chairman of the Jezkazgan Regional Committee for Wind Farm.[5]

Political career

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In 1995, he became the Secretary of the Jezkazgan Regional Committee of the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan and in December 1995, Qoşanov was elected as a member of the Senate of Kazakhstan.[6] He served the post until he was appointed as a representative of the Government in the Parliament of Kazakhstan in February 1999.[4]

From November 2001 to June 2003, Qoşanov was the Deputy Head of the Prime Minister's Office until he was appointed as Vice Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In February 2006, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. From 2007, he served as the Deputy Head of the Prime Minister's Office and a representative of the Government in the Mazhilis.[4]

On 2 February 2012, Qoşanov was appointed as the head of Prime Minister's Office.[7] He served the post until he was appointed as the äkim of Karaganda Region on 14 March 2017.[8] From 18 September 2019, he worked as chief of staff in the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan under Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.[9][10]

Chairman of the Mäjilis (2022–present)

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Qoşanov and Mustafa Şentop in Ankara, April 2023

Following resignation of Nurlan Nigmatulin as the Mäjilis chairman, Qoşanov became a deputy of Mäjilis for the lower house Parliament and was subsequently elected as the new chairman of the chamber on 1 February 2022.[11][12] Qoşanov's nomination was proposed by Nur Otan MP Erlan Sairov who noted his experience in many fields including legislation while Qoşanov himself at the hearing thanked the support, stressing that President Tokayev's proposed reforms is "is our common task."[13]

On 14 February 2022, Qoşanov was elected as the parliamentary leader of Nur Otan. From there, he stressed that the party should be actively involved in its transformation by fully contributing to increasing the effectiveness to carry out the presidential course of reforms. He also instructed for the Mäjilis to strengthen the quality of legislative activity, increase the relevance of lawmakers' requests, and strengthen interaction with the Nur Otan Central Office on analytics and work in the regions.[14]

Since April 26, 2022, he has been appointed chairman of the Amanat party.[15]

On March 29, 2023, he was re-elected chairman of the Mäjilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Yerlan Koshanov elected as AMANAT Party Chairman". en.inform.kz. 2022-04-26. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
  2. ^ "Faction of the party "AMANAT"". Official Website of the Mäjilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan. Archived from the original on 2022-12-04. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
  3. ^ "Yerlan Koshanov elected Kazakh Majilis Speaker". en.inform.kz. 2023-03-29. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
  4. ^ a b c "Finance.kz - Финансовый супермаркет". finance.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  5. ^ "Кошанов Ерлан Жаканович". online.zakon.kz. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  6. ^ "Биография Ерлана Кошанова, нового акима Карагандинской области". 365info.kz (in Russian). 14 March 2017. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  7. ^ "Erlan Koshanov heads Kazakhstan Prime-Minister's office". akipress.com. 2012-02-03. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  8. ^ "Ерлан Қошанов Қарағанды облысының әкімі болып тағайындалды". www.inform.kz (in Kazakh). 2017-03-14. Archived from the original on 2017-03-19. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  9. ^ Dilshat Zhussupova (2019-09-19). "Ерлан Кошанов возглавил Администрацию Президента". tengrinews.kz.
  10. ^ "Kazakh President reshuffles key government and ministry posts". The Astana Times. 2019-09-19. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  11. ^ "Kazakhstan's former chief of staff elected Speaker of Mazhilis". TASS. 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  12. ^ "New speaker of Kazakh Mazhilis elected". akipress.com. 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  13. ^ "Ерлан Қошанов Мәжіліс Төрағасы болып сайланды". www.parlam.kz (in Kazakh). 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  14. ^ "Прошло заседание фракции партии "Nur Otan" в Мажилисе". www.parlam.kz. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  15. ^ "Yerlan Koshanov becomes Amanat Party Chairman". www.inform.kz. 2022-04-26.
  16. ^ "Yerlan Koshanov elected Kazakh Majilis Speaker". el.kz. 2023-03-29.