Just a few months after the formation of the UAE, the Federal National Council met for the first time 40 years ago yesterday. From the start, the FNC has been an integral part of the development of the nation. Its duties have focused on bringing people's concerns to the attention of the federal ministers, and throughout its history it has held lively debates as members have grilled cabinet ministers.
The FNC is continuing to evolve. For most of its history, its members lacked a popular mandate but in the previous FNC half its members were elected by a small electoral college, which was then much expanded for the elections of the present membership, half of whom are elected and half appointed. For the next elections, the voting should include all adult UAE nationals.
It is also important that the FNC seeks a more involved role in government. At present it can only comment on legislation, and this should expand to include the right to offer detailed amendments, and possibly also originate laws. The steady evolution of the FNC into a fuller part of the operating of government is an important part of the continuing development of the UAE.
