FNC seeks election law before end of current term

Abu Dhabi Members of the Federal National Council (FNC) have asked for an election law to be enacted before the House's term ends in February next year, to broaden political participation.

FNC members on many occasions asked for more constitutional changes to empower the council into a real parliament capable of scrutinising the government and enhancing accountability.

Political liberalisation in the UAE received a boost with the first elections to the country's legislature in December 2006. Nine women were also elected. The elections, however, presented only a small step in terms of political development as only about 6,600 Emiratis were able to cast their votes and half of the 40 seats in the FNC were filled through direct election, while the rest were filled by nomination by Their Highnesses the Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the emirates.

The government has indicated that elections and ensuing constitutional changes represent only the initial step in a gradual process of broadening political participation.

Poll finances

"An election law must be enacted before the end of the legislature's term in February next year to address voting and candidacy rights, the financing of elections and restrictions placed on campaign advocacy," said Sultan Saqr Al Suwaidi, a member from Dubai.

The members said they do not prefer a repeat of the electoral experience of 2006, when half of the members of the 40-seat council were elected by less than one per cent of the Emirati population, Al Suwaidi said the law — like in other countries which adopt a democratic electoral system — should also address whether, and how, voters or candidates may file legal actions in a court of law or administrative agency to enforce their rights or contest the outcome of an election, election fraud and other crimes against the electoral system.

Al Suwaidi quizzed Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for FNC Affairs, on the steps taken to prepare an election law.

Dr Gargash said his ministry has no power to prepare an election law. "The 2006 elections were organised in line with a Presidential Decree, setting a national commission, which oversaw the electoral process," Gargash said in a statement submitted the council in September last year, during its Summer break.

Al Suwaidi said he was not satisfied with the answer and submitted another question to Gargash.

"If it [the Ministry of State for FNC Affairs] has no power to prepare an election law, so which authority has the jurisdiction to do so?" he asked.

Dr Mohammad Salem Al Mazroui, Secretary-General of the FNC, said the second question has not yet been submitted to the Ministry of FNC Affairs.

A source at the ministry told Gulf News it is up to the political leadership of the country to organise the next FNC elections by a law or a presidential decree.

Dr Sultan Ahmad Abdullah Al Moadhen, a member from Fujairah, called for enacting a law for elections that provide for universal suffrage and increasing the number of FNC members.

In the national programme presented in 2005, the President had promised full direct elections without setting a timeframe.

Dr Abdul Rahim Al Shaheen, a member from Ras Al Khaimah, said President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa's political programme provides for more powers to the house, election law and increase in the number of members. "Political changes can be introduced gradually. Increasing the number of the legislature's members can come first, to be followed by an election law that allows every Emirati to vote and stand as candidates and finally more powers for the House."

Dr Fatima Hamad Nasser Al Mazroui, a member from Abu Dhabi, said more efforts are needed to deepen the parliamentary culture in society. "A study conducted by the House showed that as many as 89 per cent of Emiratis do not know the exact powers of the legislature or even the number of its members."