Qatar holds first legislative elections

Qataris holds its first legislative elections on Saturday, in the Gulf Arab state’s, to choose two-thirds of the advisory Shura Council in a vote that has stirred domestic debate about electoral inclusion and citizenship.

Thirty members of a 45-seat organization will be elected, and the ruling party chief will continue to appoint the remaining 15 members of the council, who have legislative power and approve general state policies and budgets.

The council has no control over the administrative bodies that set defense, security, economic and investment policies for small but wealthy gas producers banning political parties.

The legislative vote approved in the 2003 referendum is ahead of Doha, which will host next year’s World Cup football tournament. Critics say the voting qualifications are too narrow.

The campaign took place on social media, community meetings, and roadside signs.

Eighteen women are standing out of about 183 candidates, hoping to be elected at polling stations in 30 districts nationwide, which have held local elections for several years.

The elections show that, “The Qatari-controlled Altani family takes seriously the idea of symbolically sharing power, but effectively shares power institutionally with other Qatari tribal groups.”

Opinion polls arouse tribal sensitivity after some members of the major tribes realized that they were not eligible to vote under a law restricting their families from voting in Qatar before 1930.

Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Tani described the vote as a new experiment, allowing the council to have a full role of parliament from the first year.

The Foreign Minister said there was a clear process for the election law to be reviewed by the next Shura Council.

Christine Smith Diwan of the Arab Gulf Countries Institute in Washington said, “But popular politics is unpredictable.

“Over time, as this public forum evolves, Qatar may grow to look differently in their roles and rights.”

Human Rights Watch (HRW) states that thousands of Qatar have been excluded. A small demonstration against the law took place in August, led by members of the Al Murra tribe.

Kuwait is currently the only Gulf monarchy that gives substantive power to elected parliaments, but the final decision-making is left to the ruler, as in neighboring states.

Kamila/Reuters