Abu Dhabi: Will the elections lead to a bigger mandate for the FNC? The short answer to this question is yes, probably. Hopes are pinned on a massive voter turnout which will push forward the UAE's fledging democratic process.
President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has called on voters to actively participate in the Federal National Council (FNC) elections to ensure real public participation in the decision-making process.
The Electoral College comprising nearly 130,000 Emirati men and women selected by the Rulers' Courts will vote to choose 20 FNC members from among 450 candidates. The other 20 members of the 40-member council will be appointed by the Rulers.
Shaikh Khalifa said: "We have to walk with a clear vision to empower the FNC. "The elections are the perfect opportunity to take a major step towards this goal, which will be achieved, God willing, with your virtuous efforts."
Today's election is the second of its kind in the history of the UAE but its a definitive first in terms of the strength of the Electoral College and number of candidates. In 2006, only 6,600 people cast their votes to elect 20 members of the FNC. Previously, all of the 40 FNC members were selected by the Rulers.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, also exhorted citizens to vote in big numbers "to write a new chapter in the success story of our beloved country".
General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, stressed that the UAE is witnessing a social movement aimed at enhancing the parliamentary experience, developing its performance with confident, firm and ambitious steps to achieve the vision of the leadership to open up political participation with an eye on the nation's march into the future.
Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, minister of state for foreign affairs and minister of state for FNC Affairs, said the voter turnout would offer the UAE leadership an indication about how society perceives the importance of public participation in the decision-making process.
Several options
"If the turnout is low, the message will be that the FNC election is important but not a priority. I am sure the level of participation will decide the speed of the development of the election programme in the future," said Dr Gargash, who is also the chairman of the National Election Committee.
Dr Gargash said there are several options on the agenda including giving the FNC more powers or expanding the electoral college or introducing elected councils in different emirates. Each of these options will entail constitutional changes.
Dr Abdul Rahim Al Shaheen, professor of political science at the UAE University, said the elections will be a successful parliamentary experiment.
"A high voter turnout will show citizens' keen interest in political participation and will help expand the FNC role to enrich and develop our parliamentary experiment towards the empowerment of the FNC into a full-fledged parliament," he added.
FNC members do not have the final say in passing, amending or rejecting legislation or the federal budget. Their role is largely advisory. The government refers to the FNC as a ‘federal authority'.
Powers of legislation in the UAE largely lie with the Supreme Council.
FNC powers include:
- Constitutional amendments: Making constitutional amendments if requested to do so by the Supreme Council, or initiate a request for amendments.
- Drafting of laws: It can discuss draft laws and propose to pass, reject or amend them.
- n Federal budget: The federal budget is presented to the FNC to make observations.
- International agreements and treaties: The FNC can also make observations on international agreements.
- Controlling the power of the government: FNC members have the right to enquire about relevant issues from certain ministers and convey public complaints about ministries.
In an address to the nation marking the end of the polling process in 2006, Shaikh Khalifa had said that while the FNC had helped the government in making legislation and addressing many issues, its role would be expanded in the coming era "to enrich and develop our parliamentary experiment".
Shaikh Khalifa urged the government "to provide the appropriate atmosphere to allow the FNC to exercise its role as a bridge between citizens and the state institutions and its executive and administrative leaders".
FNC members on many occasions asked for more constitutional changes to empower the council as a real parliament capable of scrutinising the government and enhancing accountability. The government has indicated that elections and ensuing constitutional changes represent only the initial step in a gradual process of broadening political participation.
