Constitutional changes approved

Abu Dhabi: The Federal Supreme Council approved constitutional amendments to empower the legislative branch of government and enhance transparency and accountability, at its meeting here yesterday, chaired by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Gulf News has learnt.

The meeting was held in the presence of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and attended by Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, WAM said.

The council "discussed issues of national concern, and stressed the federal role in achieving prosperity for the nation and its people. Also in the meeting, some constitutional amendments were approved," the agency added.

The major constitutional changes approved on Tuesday are aimed at "transforming the Federal National Council [FNC] into a full-fledged legislative house that will scrutinise the functioning of the Government," informed sources told Gulf News.

The far-ranging changes cover six articles of the UAE Constitution, according to the sources.

"The FNC's legislative term would be for four years instead of the current two and it would start at the beginning of October. The current FNC session, which will last until the end of February next year, would be extended for two more years to complete the legislative term," explained one source.

Article 62, which stresses the accountability of ministers of the Cabinet, was also amended. An amendment was made to Article 45 to allow the appointment of deputies of the prime minister instead of one deputy.

Another crucial change was made to article 62 to state that the Prime Minister, his deputies and federal ministers shall not practise any professional or commercial job nor shall they enter in a business transaction with the federal government or local governments.

They also shall not occupy more than one post in any local government.

Lawmakers said they were looking forward to having more powers to be able to scrutinise the Government.

-With inputs from WAM

Amendments: Highlights of changes

• Article 45: The word Deputy Prime Minister replaced by deputies. Also allows a deputy to exercise all powers of the Prime Minister in the latter's absence by a decision of the President upon recommendation from the cabinet.
• Article 62: The Prime Minister, his deputies and federal minister shall not, during their terms, practice any profession or commercial or financial job nor shall they enter a business transaction with the federal government or local governments or occupy more than one post in any local government.
• Article 91: The Government shall notify the FNC of the international agreements and conventions accompanied by a clarification to debate them before ratification.