Abu Dhabi: As the UAE confidently advances towards creating a more mature and securely institutionalised democracy, the Federal National Council is getting more mature and the parliamentary culture is strengthened, officials of the National Election Committee said yesterday.
“The voter turnout increased to more than 35 per cent with participation of more than 79,000 voters. The ratio of candidates to seats of the council decreased from 23 in the 2011 election to 17 in this election. Early voting, overseas ballots and a single vote system are signs that the UAE’s parliamentary experience is strengthened and the House is getting more mature,” said Ahmad Bin Shabib Al Daheri, former deputy speaker of the FNC and member of the National Election Committee.
Al Daheri added parliamentary experience is accumulated with many returning members running for the election and winning seats for the second time and many candidates contesting several times and never giving up until they win.
“At least six former FNC members who won seats in the 2006 and 2011 elections contested again and won seats in this year’s election.”
More than 224,000 Emiratis are eligible to cast their vote and elected 20 members of the 40-seat Council.
Al Daheri pointed out another positive feature of this year’s election is that the ratio of candidates to seats decreased significantly from 23 in 2011 to 17 this year.
The number of candidates had decreased compared with the 2011 elections, when as many as 450 nominees entered the fray, while this year’s elections saw only 330 candidates contesting. “This is indicative that only those with tremendous compassion or those who know what it takes to be a member of the FNC took part,” Al Daheri said.
Al Daheri stressed that the number of candidates was indicative of a “maturing and more professional electoral process”.
Al Daheri added the women have maintained their presence in the FNC elections with nearly 22 per cent of the total number of nominees.
He added that the members of the Council represent the people of the UAE and only those with a strong political background or keen to represent the people had filed nominations.
Al Daheri said representatives of the people need to be motivated, determined and committed and have the confidence to speak in public.
“Each candidate did the maths and knew from the beginning how many votes he needed to win a seat in the council, whether he or she will be able to canvass support and what is the strategy required to win a seat in the council,” Al Daheri said.
Al Daheri said the electoral process was so fair and transparent with at least two polling station set up in shopping malls. “These polling stations were open to the public and the media to see first-hand how the UAE’s electoral process is carried out,” Al Daheri said.
Box
Voter turnout 35.29
79,157 voters
48,330 men voters
30,827 women voters
35,046 votes cast in Abu Dhabi
Dubai 11,760 votes
Sharjah 9,585 votes
Ajman 2,965 votes
Umm Al Quwain 2,882 votes
Ras Al Khaimah 11,444 votes
Fujairah 5,475 votes
485 voters had their votes invalidated
