A/HRC/13/23/Add.1 Kazakhs and the return of large numbers of the Kazakh diaspora (Oralmans) contributed significantly to demographic changes. The 1999 census confirmed that Kazakhs constituted a majority with 53.4 per cent, whereas the Russian proportion had fallen from 37.4 to 29.9 per cent. 2 15. A post independence policy of Kazakhization, including the promotion of Kazakh as the State language, some consider generated anxiety among minority ethnic Russians, Germans and Russian-speaking communities over their future prospects, and motivated mass emigration. The Government considers that emigration was a consequence of independence and relocation to historic kin-States, often assisted by those States, as well as economic considerations. III. Political participation of minorities 16. Kazakhstan has a presidential form of government and a bicameral parliamentary system that consists of the Senate (Upper House) and the Majilis (Lower House). There are currently 10 officially recognized political parties. To register, a party must have at least 40,000 members nationally and 600 members in each region. Political parties are prohibited from being based on racial, national, ethnic or religious affiliation. To obtain seats in the Majilis, parties must ordinarily poll at least 7 per cent of the vote. Only the party of President Nazarbayev, the Nur Otan (Bright Fatherland) party, reached this threshold in the 2007 elections, however subsequent Constitutional amendments guarantee that at least two parties gain seats in the future. 17. In the 2007 elections, 98 of 107 seats in the Majilis were distributed on the basis of party lists to the political parties under the system of proportional representation. The Nur Otan party officially achieved 88.41 per cent of the vote in the elections, winning every seat in Parliament.3 Nine deputies of the Majilis are appointed from the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan. The Senate is constituted on the basis of two members from each oblast, Astana and Almaty; 15 senators are directly appointed by the President. 18. The Assembly of the People (formerly “Peoples”) is a consultative body, established by the President in 1995 and charged with representing the communal interests of ethnic minorities. In its report for 2004 submitted to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Government explained that the Assembly’s objectives were twofold: to elaborate practical recommendations for consolidating society; and to assist the President in his activities as guarantor of respect for the rights and freedoms of the citizens of Kazakhstan, irrespective of their racial, ethnic or social origin, religion or beliefs.4 19. The Assembly has over 430 members, representing 40 of the largest ethnic groups, and has a Council of 56 members. The Government states that it performs a variety of cultural, inspirational, communicative and advisory functions. It revives and promotes ethnic cultures, languages and traditions; fosters national and ethnic patriotism; strengthens inter-ethnic unity and harmony through the monitoring of ethnic relations; and makes recommendations for State policy to develop friendly relations between the nationalities living in Kazakhstan.5 The Government notes that the Assembly ensures effective 2 3 4 5 GE.10-10602 Preliminary results of the 2009 census suggest that this trend continues, with ethnic Kazakhs representing 67 per cent of the population and ethnic Russians 21 per cent. The All National Social Democratic Party officially achieved 4.54 per cent of the vote, while five additional parties officially polled between 0.37 and 3.09 per cent. CERD/C/439/Add.2. Ibid., para. 140. 7