Sharjah: There is a need to develop gradual political participation in the UAE as the scope of the Federal National Council (FNC) elections is being expanded, said Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
Dr Gargash, who is also the Minister of State for Federal National Council (FNC) Affairs and Chairman of the National Election Commission (NEC), made a statement while talking at the Sharjah Media Centre’s sixth Ramadan Majlis on Sunday.
The Majlis, which was held at Al Majaz Amphitheatre, aimed to discuss the 2015 elections and the UAE’s march towards sustainable development.
“There is a commitment by the leadership that this experience is made up of phases, each of which will be evaluated and developed until we reach the best electoral model. Our leadership wants modern and influential political participation that suits our society and, at the same time, a developed and civilised model,” Dr Gargash said
Dr Gargash said the country’s leadership is opting for a gradual approach in order to maintain authentic UAE values and make use of them moving forward.
“It was a limited experience in 2006, with the participation of 7,000 voters, and then extended to 130,000 voters in 2011, to reach 224,000 voters this year with the introduction of the single-vote system, instead of the multi-vote system of the two previous elections.”
Dr Gargash said the leadership aspires through this gradual process of strengthening political participation for the establishment of a national experience that brings Emirati citizens together.
Gargash praised the directives of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to elect half the members of the Sharjah Consultative Council, noting that this decision supports the FNC and comes as part of the empowerment phase announced by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Ahmad Mohammad Al Khatri, Chairman of the Ras Al Khaimah Courts Department, NEC member and former FNC member stressed that the greatest wealth in the UAE is the trust between the leadership and the people.
He also said the FNC member represents all UAE people, adding that the importance of the FNC lies in its role in revising and amending laws, which is a big achievement for the UAE.
Legal Adviser Mansour Mohammad Bin Nasser, Director of the Legal Department at the Office of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Committee for the FNC Elections 2015, said the success of the FNC and extension of its powers to include reviewing domestic laws and the work of government departments and agencies is an indication of the successful experience of political participation in the UAE.
