Abu Dhabi: Members of the Federal National Council (FNC) demanded greater legislative powers and an election law to be enacted before the House's term ends in February next year, to broaden political participation.
"The Federal National Council (FNC) should be assigned by the Constitution to draft laws within the framework of a clear-cut legislative plan," said Ahmad Al Khateri, a member from Ras Al Khaimah.
At present, the UAE's legislature only debates, passes or rejects government bills.
Al Khateri, also chairman of the RAK Judicial Department and Judicial Council, was speaking at a seminar organised on Sunday by the Cultural and Media Centre of Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President's Representative.
He suggested that no laws be passed in the absence of the House.
"There is absolutely no need for getting laws passed during the FNC's recess, or while the House is not in session."
Al Khateri said the prolonged absence of the House is a major obstacle to effective parliamentary work.
"Out of 30 years of parliamentary life, the FNC was in session only in five years and eight months."
Enhanced accountability
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 government has indicated that elections and ensuing constitutional changes represent only the initial step in a gradual process of broadening political participation.
Ahmad Bin Shabib Al Daheri, First Deputy Speaker of the FNC, said he expected more changes to be introduced in the four upcoming years to assign the House greater powers.
"The [government's] response to our questions was [that] the FNC will definitely be assigned a greater role. But the people may have greater expectations," Al Daheri said.
Maisa Rashid Gadir, a member from Dubai, expressed the hope that a political decree on legislative elections is issued before the end of the House's term.
Sultan Saqr Al Suwaidi, also a member from Dubai, told the house recently 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.
FNC 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.
Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for FNC Affairs, 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," he said.
