Dubai: The election for the new Federal National Council (FNC) is less than a week away. The recurring themes in the three-week poll campaign, which ends on Wednesday, have come in for criticism but candidates were quick to point out the paucity of time and the difficulties in reaching out to the electorate.
Issues highlighted by the 468 candidates covered a wide spectrum, but most of them lack touch with reality, according to Dr Ebtisam Al Ketbi of the Political Science College at the UAE University. Poll programmes focused on general issues including unemployment among young men and women in a country that offers jobs to 190 nationalities.
Some candidates focused on promoting the quality of education and public health services while others said they will work with the government to resolve the demographic imbalance. Empowerment of women came high on the agenda.
Dr Ebtisam said the electoral programmes of the majority of the candidates reflect a great misunderstanding of the role of the FNC and the capacity of the house in shaping the political life of the country.
"I wanted to see candidates who were more aware of their true role as FNC members and who would come up with election programmes that can be implemented," she said. Dubai candidate Abdullah Abdul Majeed Al Hajiri said it was very difficult to reach the members of the electoral college. "Most of those I manage to talk to were either unaware of the FNC or have no burning issue for someone to represent them in the decision-making process," he said.
The September 24 election starts at 8am.
