Abu Dhabi: Members of the Federal National Council (FNC) demanded more empowerment steps be taken to broaden political participation and a full-fledged legislature be created to scrutinise the Gov ernment.
They were speaking on Tuesday as the House ended its 14th legislative term, nearly five years since half of its members were elected.
Sultan Saqr Al Suwaidi, a member from Dubai, said the House must have more powers to scrutinise the Government and take part in the decision making process and not just submit recommendations, which may or may not be implemented. "It is high time to move on to a full-fledged legislature and take proper decisions to boost political participation and help the FNC to play its role in supporting social, economic and political development," Al Suwaidi said.
He added political participation is a popular demand and the ceiling [of political life] has to be raised.
Expansion
In an address to the nation marking the end of the polling process in 2006, President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said while the FNC had in the past helped the government in achieving legislation and addressing many issues, its role would be expanded in the coming era "to enrich and develop our parliamentary experiment." Shaikh Khalifa urged the government "to provide the appropriate atmosphere to allow the FNC to exercise its role as a bridge between citizens and the state institutions and its executive and administrative leaders."
In October, Dr. Anwar Mohammad Gargash, State Minister for FNC Affairs, stressed 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.
Going all the way to "full legislative powers and universal suffrage", Dr Abdul Rahim Al Shahin, a Ras Al Khaimah representative told Gulf News he aspires for full legislative powers for the House and universal sufferage for Emiratis to help the House meet expectations heaped upon it. "It is not logical to allow hand-picked group of citizens to vote and deprive others from their rights," he said.
Polls: Electoral college
Sources said the UAE's 2006 democratic experience might be repeated, with only one exception — the electoral college would be doubled to more than 12,000 Emiratis, picked by Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates.
A decision is expected to set a date for elections to elect 50 per cent of the members of the 40-member FNC, by the electoral college. The rest of the FNC members will be named by the rulers of the Emirates based on a quota. An Election Committee will then draw up executive instructions to start the polling process in all polling stations.
Instructions on how to conduct the polling and conditions for the nominee will be in line with clauses in the constitution.
