Abu Dhabi/Al Ain: UAE's thinkers, men of letters and ordinary people shared the President's vision for the coming elections.
They said elections give the citizen a voice, and the chance to make changes to how their country is run.
Dr Ateeq Jakkah Al Mansouri, professor at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, the UAE University, praised the support being extended by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to empower the Federal National Council (FNC) and enable it to discharge its national role to further develop the country, raise its stature among the world countries and safeguard its interests.
"Shaikh Khalifa's message to the nation ahead of the FNC elections embodied the UAE's time-honoured cultural and social heritage of Shura and consultation," Dr Al Mansouri said, and urged citizens on the electoral rolls to fulfil their responsibility to help the legislature address the higher national issues with full efficiency.
Dr Abdul Rahim Al Shaheen, professor of political science at the UAE University, said the upcoming elections will contribute to the building of a successful parliamentary experiment and broad political participation leading to full and proactive participation in the decision-making.
"A high voter turnover in the elections will show citizens' keen interest in political participation and empowerment of the Federal National Council into a full-fledged parliament.
Dr Al Shaheen said while the FNC had in the past helped the government in developing legislation and addressing many issues, wide participation in the coming elections will help expand its role in future to enrich and develop our parliamentary experiment.
Stressing that the President's call comes within the context of empowerment, Dr Al Shaheen said citizens on the electoral roll should respond positively to Shaikh Khalifa's call, so that the parliamentary experiment and political participation can be expanded to include every citizen.
Dr Husam Mohammad Sultan Al Ulama, an Emirati researcher working with the Ministry of Higher Education, said Emiratis were highly motivated and the elections would see a high turnover. The electoral process, he said, was being taken as a bridge further strengthening the relationship between people and the Rulers.
‘Vital role'
"It is good to see the democratic process in the country and it would play a vital role in the development of the country," he said. It is now, he said, the duty of all Emiratis to respond to President [Shaikh] Khalifa's call by showing their full participation in the FNC elections.
He said people believe the new FNC members would also follow the footsteps of the country's leadership and utilise the best of their abilities in the making of future policies and decisions.
Ebrahim Al Hashemi, an Emirati poet and writer, urged for providing 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.
Al Hashemi said political participation is important because they are the primary way of legally getting citizens' views heard, and instigating change in the country, to improve the quality of life of the people.
"Our participation is an indication of our loyalty to the nation, respect of political leaders and preparedness and willingness to discharge our responsibility as voters and key players in the decision-making and shaping of a brighter future for our country," Al Hashemi said.
Mona Saeed Al Ameri, an Emirati government employee in Al Ain, said Shaikh Khalifa's call would act as a powerful mobiliser showing a high turnout of the voters in the FNC elections. Shaikh Khalifa has been leading the country with a vision, she said, hoping that empowerment of the FNC would lend a helping hand in the prosperity of the nation.
"I believe FNC candidates would play a resilient role in nurturing democratic process in the country," said Mona.
