Abu Dhabi: Members of the Federal National Council (FNC) demanded a vision for the future empowerment steps to broaden political participation before the House's term ends in February next year.
Sultan Saqr Al Suwaidi, a Dubai member, said as the House is approaching the end of its current term, it has become imperative that the FNC be granted more powers to enable it to play its role in supporting social, economic and political development.
Quizzing Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and FNC Affairs, on the next steps the government will be taking to broaden political participation, Al Suwaidi said an election law should be issued even if the 2006 [semi] election process is to be repeated.
"We must have an election law to avoid issues and difficulties associated with the election process and if there is a draft of such a law, it must be debated and approved by the FNC before the end of its current term," he said.
Al Suwaidi asked what the vision and suggestions on political participation drawn by the Ministry of FNC Affairs and submitted to the political leadership were.
Stressing he shared the FNC members' ambitions for broader political participation, Dr Gargash said the future steps on political participation were absolutely in the hands of the political leadership. "Being part of society, the political leadership is also determined to go ahead with the empowerment process and make it successful," Dr Gargash said.
Political liberalisation in the UAE received a boost with the first elections to the country's legislature in December 2006. The elections, however, presented only a small step in terms of political development as only about 6,600 Emiratis were able to cast their vote.
