Manama: Close constituency-level races in Bahrain’s parliamentary elections have not dissipated the suspense about the names of the winners, forcing a second round vote in 34 of the 40 districts.
The sheer number of candidates in almost all the 40 constituencies meant that only a few could secure the more than 50 per cent votes required to win a much-coveted seat in the Council of Representatives, the lower chamber of the bicameral parliament.
Elections were held on Saturday with polling stations opening at 8 am and closing at 10 pm, two hours later than initially scheduled, to allow voters to choose from the 266 candidates, including 22 women, vying for a seat in the 2014-2018 chamber. Voters also cast ballots to choose their 30 municipality councilors in three of the country’s four governorates.
However, on Sunday when Shaikh Khalid Bin Ali Al Khalifa, the justice minister in charge of the elections, gave the final results, only six candidates were declared clear winners, including one MP who ran unopposed in his constituency.
None of the winners are women, but hope to see female MPs has not been completely shattered as several women have advanced to the second round to be held on Saturday.
In the Capital Governorate, only Majeed Al Asfoor was declared winner after running unopposed in the Eighth Constituency. The seats in the other nine constituencies will be for grabs on Saturday when constituents cast their ballots again for the decider.
In the Muharraq Governorate, two out of eight constituencies had winners while in the Southern Governorate, six out of the eight constituencies are still without winners.
In the Northern Governorate, Jamal Dawood carried his constituency while the voters in the other 11 constituencies will have to wait until Saturday.
At a press conference on Saturday evening, Shaikh Khalid said that the turnout for the parliamentary elections was 51.5 per cent and the turnout for the municipal elections was 53.7 per cent.
Under the election laws, foreigners who own property in Bahrain are allowed to cast ballots in the municipal elections and elect their councilors.
However, only Bahrainis can elect the MPs.
King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa in a message to the nation congratulated Bahrainis “on this auspicious day in which they expressed their love for the country.”
King Hamad said that he was particularly proud with the massive popular participation in the parliamentary and municipal elections that reflected their advanced awareness levels about electing their representatives freely and responsibly, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported.
Political societies from the opposition boycotted the elections, as they did in 2002 when they were held for the first time after Bahrain became a constitutional monarchy.
The opposition, however, reversed its stance in 2006 and 2010, which allowed Al Wefaq to win 17 and 18 seats consecutively.
Several Western diplomats who toured polling stations have praised the elections.
Victor Smirnov, the Russian ambassador, offered his congratulations to the “leaders and citizens of the Kingdom of Bahrain who took part in the forth parliamentary and municipal elections.”
“The active and positive participation of the vast majority of Bahrainis in the democratic electoral process reflects their sincere interest to exercise in transparent and honest way their constitutional right and strive to get the respected and truthful parliamentary representatives,” he said. “I believe that the new parliament and the local municipal authorities would energetically work to advance the social, political and economic reforms initiated by His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa,” he said.
