UAE | Government
FNC election plans running on course
At least one emirate has taken the first step to indirectly elect half of its members at the Federal National Council based on the formula announced by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in his National Day speech in December
- By Mohammed Almezel, Assistant Editor
- Published: 00:00 April 27, 2006
- The Federal National Council (FNC), the nation?s unicameral parliament, was formed under the Provisional Constitution of the United Arab Emirates in 1971 and was inaugurated by the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan on February 13, 1972.
- The council is composed of 40 members traditionally appointed by the rulers for a two-year term. Under a decision announced in December by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 20 members will be elected and the other 20 will be nominated and sent by the federation?s emirates.
- FNC is empowered to discuss, make amendments, approve or reject Federal Bills, as well as debate general issues pertaining to the people and government.
- Draft laws are presented to the council for discussion and amendments with the help of specialised house committees. They are sent back to the Cabinet for its consideration and approval.
- Under the constitution, any treaty or agreement between the UAE and other countries must be presented to the council for its review.
Dubai: At least one emirate has taken the first step to indirectly elect half of its members at the Federal National Council based on the formula announced by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in his National Day speech in December, signalling the first concrete step to realise the political reforms initiated by the President, Gulf News learnt yesterday.
Other emirates are almost ready to follow suit, sources said. In the speech, delivered on December 1 the eve of the 34th National Day, Shaikh Khalifa announced that half of the 40 FNC members would be elected through local councils and the rest would be appointed by the Rulers.
Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of all emirates will each form a local council, which is to be at least 100 times as much as the number of its representatives in the FNC.
The reforms are aimed at boosting the role of citizens and will be topped by holding direct legislative elections, Shaikh Khalifa has said.
"The decision to introduce these reforms stems from the firm conviction of the UAE leadership on the importance of achieving wider and more effective participation of all citizens, men and women, in the building and development of the country so as to reinforce and protect the gains and achievements of their country," he explained.
The emirate of Umm Al Quwain, which is represented by 4 members in the FNC, has already chosen its local council, which in turn would elect 2 members of the FNC, sources told Gulf News. The other two are to be appointed by the Ruler. According to the sources, the 400-member electoral council includes 20 women. The election and appointment processes are expected to be completed in May.
Also next month, the other emirates are expected to finalise the lists of their local councils and nominees for the FNC. The sources projected that by the end of May, the election and nomination process could well be completed.
Gulf News earlier reported that the upcoming FNC would receive presidential proposals to amend the constitution, aimed at reforming the UAE's legislative authority, when it convenes. Profile: Responsibilities of unicameral parliament
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