Members back full legislative powers and universal suffrage

Abu Dhabi: Members of the Federal national Council (FNC) have freely expressed committed support for "full legislative powers and universal suffrage" to help the House meet expectations heaped upon it.

They said the country's parliament is still shackled with the same "outdated" powers since its establishment in 1972.

They were speaking as the FNC open its third session of the 14th legislative term, nearly two years since half of its members were elected.

"Wide-ranging constitutional changes leading to a fully elected and powerful parliament is both necessary and urgent," said Dr Abdul Rahim Al Shahin, FNC member from Ras Al Khaimah.

Suggestion

Al Shahin suggested that for the UAE to have a strong legislative and controlling council the right to vote should be guaranteed to every Emirati, which will bring the right representatives of the people and create a lively and productive legislature.

Al Shahin also demanded that the Cabinet should have no say in calling for the FNC or its discussions on any issue, as is the case right now.

"The FNC does nothing but make recommendations and has no power to enforce the implementation of these recommendations. We question ministers but they evade questions and get away with it because the council has no controlling powers."

The FNC was formed under the Provisional Constitution of the UAE in 1972 as an important and permanent component of the state machinery, which includes the Supreme Council, the President, the Cabinet and the Judiciary.

It comprises 40 members, with Abu Dhabi and Dubai having eight each, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah six each and Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah four each. The 14th legislative chapter of the Council was the first with half of its members elected and women representing 21 per cent of the house.

Ahmad Shabib Al Dahri, first deputy speaker of the House, said a longer legislative term of the FNC will allow it to effectively discharge its duties.

Dr Sultan Ahmad Al Moadhen, another member from Fujairah, agrees the Council needs more powers to play an active role in the democratic life. "The FNC should be representing the people, making laws, sustaining and scrutinising the government."

Praising as historic the FNC's 14th legislative term, First Deputy Speaker Ahmad Shabeeb Al Daheri, from Abu Dhabi, said this House is different and has the full support of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Government to bring about changes in public participation in the decision-making process. It has 50 per cent of members elected and it has a strong presence of women members.

Al Daheri supported more legislative powers, longer legislative term of at least four years and more members to fully represent the people.

He said both the country's leadership and Government back the Council's effort to pave the way for greater public participation in policy-making. "They want to see the FNC expanded with more members and more legislative power for the council."

Dr Amal Abdullah Juma Al Qubaisi, from Abu Dhabi, became the only woman to be elected to the FNC. The other eight women were appointed by Rulers of the emirates.

Dr Amal said women have been successful in their first political involvement with the FNC, but called for better representation of women. "The House should have a longer legislative term or four to five years and its recommendations should see their way to implementation."

One of the women appointed to the FNC was Najla Al Awadi from Dubai.

She said the FNC will gradually be fully empowered, and "its impact will be felt more strongly in our society, with the goal of ensuring that it will solidly contribute to the continued prosperity of our nation and our people".

"The House has achieved a lot in its first post-election experience, it goes without saying that our aspirations are much greater for our second term."

Al Awadi spoke of what she called "an evolutionary process". "Our strategy is to empower our federal government bodies, and in this case the House, and to do so gradually, to ensure a smooth evolution in the participation of our nationals in the decision making process." Al Awadi added: "The FNC will gradually be fully empowered, and its impact will be felt more strongly in our society."