News | UAE
Council looks to more statute changes
Although committed to the principle of increased involvement of the people in the country's affairs, members of the UAE's unicameral legislature appear much more comfortable with the government's adoption of a gradual approach.
- By Samir Salama, Associate Editor
- Published: 00:00 October 20, 2009
- Abdullah Ahmad Al Shehi, one of the Federal National Council members, makes a point during the council session in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
- Image Credit: Abdul Rahman/Gulf News
Abu Dhabi: Members of the Federal National Council (FNC) say they look forward to more constitutional changes to empower the legislative branch of government and enhance accountability.
Although committed to the principle of increased involvement of the people in the country's affairs, members of the UAE's unicameral legislature appear much more comfortable with the government's adoption of a gradual approach.
They said ahead of opening the fourth session of the 14th legislative chapter of the House, they are committed to implementing President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's national programme to achieve more participation through expanding powers of the FNC into a full-fledged legislative house that will scrutinise the Government.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will open the session tomorrow, in the presence of Crown Princes and Deputy Rulers, Ministers, members of diplomatic corps as well as high-ranking civil and military officials.
President Shaikh Khalifa has decreed convocation of the FNC in line with the constitution change number 1 of 2009, which states that the House will hold an annual ordinary session within a period of seven months to start from the third week of October every year instead of November.
"More constitutional changes are needed to empower the Federal National Council into a real parliament capable of scrutinising the government and enhancing accountability," said Dr Sultan Ahmad Abdullah Al Moadhen, a member of Fujairah. However, Al Moadhen did not go all the way to a motion of no confidence. "In the first stage, I would suggest more powers to enable the House to take certain measures against a minister or ministry which fails to provide services to the public. Motion of no confidence may come at a later stage when the parliamentary culture is deepened."
Direct election
Al Moadhen also called for enacting a law for elections that provide for universal suffrage and increasing the number of FNC members.
In the national programme presented in 2005, the President had promised full direct elections without setting a timeframe.
Political liberalisation in the UAE received a boost with the first elections for the country's legislature held in December 2006. Nine women were also elected. The elections, however, presented only a small step in terms of political development as less than one per cent of the Emirati population was able to cast their vote. Moreover, only half of the 40 seats in the FNC were filled through direct election, while the rest were filled by nomination by rulers of individual emirates.
The government has indicated that the elections and ensuing constitutional changes represent only the initial step in a gradual process of broadening political participation.
Dr Abdul Rahim Al Shaheen, a member from Ras Al Khaimah, said Shaikh Khalifa's political programme provides for more powers for the House, election law revamp and increase in the number of members.
Al Shaheen, like many other members of the House, says he is comfortable with the government's adoption of a gradual approach, justifying it on many grounds including the UAE's lack of a parliamentary culture and the sectarian and regional divisiveness of elections elsewhere in the Arab world.
"All these political changes have to be introduced gradually. Increasing the number of the legislature's members can come first, to be followed by an election law that allows every Emirati to vote and stand as candidates and finally more powers for the House."
Al Shaheen said it was significant that the election prompted unprecedented popular discussion of political, social and economic issues, some of them touching on the sensitive area of Emirati-expatriate relations.
FNC members, however, declined to speak of a timeframe for future elections or to speculate on their scope.
They accept that the legalisation of political parties is not a present possibility in the UAE or elsewhere in the Gulf, and that the government is not talking about democracy but only about widening popular participation.
Dr Fatima Hamad Nasser Al Mazroui, a member from Abu Dhabi, said the recently introduced constitutional changes empowering the FNC to review UAE's agreements with other countries before they are ratified and allowing the House to work out its parliamentary procedures and standing orders are appropriate for the time- being.
"As we have not yet drawn our parliamentary procedures and standing orders, we would not be able to seek more constitutional changes," Dr Fatima said.
She added more efforts are needed to deepen the parliamentary culture in the society. "The problem is that the majority of people have no clue about the FNC or its powers. A study conducted by the House showed that as many as 89 per cent of Emiratis do not know the exact powers of the legislature or even the number of its members."
Membership term
On many occasions, she said, constituents demand government-provided houses or other facilities and services which are not under the House's mandate.
Constitutional changes also stipulated the membership term of the Federal National Council (FNC) as four years instead of two years with effect from the date of the first session.
The FNC holds an annual ordinary session within a period of not less than seven months. It begins in the third week of October each year. An extraordinary session can be convened, but only to look into the issues raised in a motion.
According to the amended article 85 of the constitution, the FNC will have a general secretariat to be chaired by the general secretary. His functions will be specified by the bylaws. The FNC will set the bylaws and will be issued upon a decision from the President of Supreme Council of the Federation based upon approval from the Supreme Council of the Federation.
The amended article 91 says that the government will report to the FNC the international treaties and agreements signed with other countries and organisations. They are subjected to discussion by the FNC before their ratification.
Dr Fatima said the gradualistic approach would allow the House to experience the best international practices and select the most appropriate for the country and its heritage.
Sultan Saqr Al Suwaidi, a member from Dubai, said the new session may not address any further constitutional changes.
"Recently introduced changes are good, but we members of the FNC, ordinary people and leaders of the country look forward to achieving excellence in the best interests of our homeland," Al Suwaidi said.
Session: Mohammad to open
The Federal National Council (FNC) will set up a committee that will draft a response to the speech of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Shaikh Mohammad will be accorded an official reception before he opens the session tomorrow. FNC Speaker Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al Ghurair will deliver a speech on the occasion, which will be followed by the speech of Shaikh Mohammad.
The legislature will then elect its eight permanent committees, controllers and the executive committee of the parliamentary bureau.
The House will review the recent constitutional amendments and a number of laws and federal decrees.
A federal law on General Mobilisation and another setting up the Union Railways, which will be tasked with building a nationwide rail network, will be discussed.
The House will also review a number of cooperation agreements signed with other countries.
Members said the new session is expected to discuss a number of important issues including the UAE's foreign policy and food security.
The House will also debate marine resources and issues of fishermen
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