[Excerpt: Speaking to Gulf News, Khalid Bin Jabor Al Thani, secretary general of PEC, said women will play a decisive role in the elections...."We at the committee believe women will be the backbone in the elections and will play an important role in boosting public participation," he said...."Another important player will be non-governmental organisations. After observing other countries' experiences, we believe they play a big role in determining candidates' selection and political programmes."...Al Thani said PEC will work with women and students to promote their participation...."It is time to encourage people and non-governmental organisations to express their views, to take part in their society's growth and shaping".]
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/RegionNF.asp?ArticleID=157900 Published: 26/3/2005, 08:59 (UAE) Democracy comes calling in Qatar By Barbara Bibbo', Correspondent Doha: The Emir of Qatar announced a week ago that the long awaited parliamentary elections, the first in the country's history, would be held soon. Although the date for the historic polls has not been set, His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani said Qataris would be called to vote by the end of this year or the beginning of next year. He said the date would be fixed as soon as the Permanent Election Committee in charge of organising the poll completed its preparatory work, which includes drawing up the electoral constituencies. In April 2003, an overwhelming 96.6 per cent of Qatari nationals eligible to vote approved a draft constitution that provided for the direct election of the parliament. When it becomes effective on June 7, the new constitution will turn Qatar into a more democratic country, authorities say. Qatar now has a provisional constitution which was adopted in 1970 and amended in 1972 when the country Britain. Under the old constitution the Emir holds the legislative and executive powers and appoints the ministers. A council of ministers assists the Emir in exercising the executive power and implementing state policies. Qatar also has a 35-member Advisory Council (Shura) that debates and advises the Cabinet on economic, political and administrative issues. When the new constitution is adopted and the parliamentary elections held, the Shura will become a Parliament in which 30 of the 45 members will be elected through universal suffrage. The remaining 15 members will be appointed by the Emir. The terms of service of the appointed members will expire when they resign their seats or are relieved from their posts. Among the duties of the parliament will be to exercise legislative authority, approve the general policy of the government, the budget and exercise control over the executive authority. Every member of parliament may address a point of clarification to the prime minister or to any of the ministers pertaining to matters within their jurisdiction. An interpellation of ministers can be conducted if it is agreed upon by one third of the members of parliament. Qatar already took an important step towards democracy in 1999, when free elections were held to choose the 29 members of the Central Municipal Council. For the first time on that occasion women were allowed to vote and run as candidates. An announcement on the date of the parliamentary elections has been expected for a long time and speculation has spread on the reasons for the delay. However, officials close to the Government say the authorities want to ensure that the elections will be a success in terms of popular response and that the delay is due to intense preparation. The elections have drawn positive remarks from international observers such as German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who during a recent visit here said that "the Emir's farsightedness and democratic endeavours represent a model for the rest of the Gulf countries." Despite its democratic flavour, the constitution does not sanction political parties, a shortcoming that officials justify by saying the community would not be ready for it. The first article of the constitution states that the "political system is democratic". Accordingly, the Constitution has detailed the procedures of public participation in government, since "the people are the source of authority". Jamal Yahya, a renowned Egyptian constitutionalist, said the new constitution has a strong focus on the public's participation in the decision making process. Yahya, who helped the Qatari Constitutional Draft Commission draft the new charter, recalls the efforts of the Qatari authorities to shape a democratic model that would guarantee public participation. "The main aim of the authorities when drafting the new constitution was to develop the country and try to create a sort of participation of the people to ensure the start-up of the democratic process," he said. According to Yahya the main reason for the move was that the authorities recognised the dangers inherent in political trends in the region, where autocratic regimes such as that in Iraq paved the way for foreign aggression. "I believe the rulers of Qatar saw and felt the storms in the region and decided not to wait to be forced into a change," he said. "They have chosen to take the initiative and embrace democracy � In his letter to the Constitutional Draft Commission the Emir insisted on public participation and development of a modern constitution that will make the country a modern one. But even though the elections are to be held by the end of the year, there is neither political debate in the country nor information about who the potential candidates will be and what their programmes are. According to Aisha Al Mannai, dean of the Sharia Faculty at Qatar University, society is not yet ready for political parties because they are alien to the local culture and heritage. "I do not think the country is ready to have political parties as in the Western world or in other Arab countries," she said. "Politics and ideologies have to emerge naturally and cannot take root suddenly; people will need time." According to Al Mannai, this will not prevent candidates from conducting an election campaign and to have their own program-mes and ideas. Asked whether tribal leaders would exercise their influence and guide the electoral process in the absence of political parties, Mannai said this could happen. However, she believes that tribal influence has been losing its appeal among Qataris in recent years. "Tribal leaders would be there supporting this or that candidate, but I believe they would not vote for a candidate who does not have a good program-me," she said. In a recent TV interview Shaikh Hamad Bin Jasem Al Thani, First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister, said the political process in Qatar is progressing steadily, but added that no parties had been formed yet in the country. "There may be no parties but there are Qatari tribes and clans that will decide, nominate and vote for their candidates in the elections," he said. He pointed out that the Qatari constitution does not make allowance for political currents or parties, but if a bloc forms in the coming Parliament promoting a certain viewpoint, it would be the result of the people's vote within the provisions of the constitution. Activating the women's role began when women took part in the elections for the Central Municipal Council (CMC) in 1999. Women participated in the elections both as candidates and voters. Female registration accounted for 43.8 per cent of registered voters and 42.7 per cent cast their votes. Although none of the six women who contested the election won a seat, one got 34.5 per cent of the votes in her constituency. Only in the second round did a female candidate get selected thanks to the strong support of the Qatari leadership, who wished to have at least one woman in the CMC. Aisha Al Mannai said she expected women to play a major role in the elections. She said the election committee is making a strong effort to encourage women to participate. The fact that the chairmanship of the Permanent Election Committee (PEC) went to a woman, Shaikha Aisha Bint Khalifa Al Thani, sister of the Qatari Emir, is significant, she said. "The committee keeps in mind the women's role and participation in the elections, to be candidates and voters," she said. Shaikha Aisha lately announced that women will take part in a national conference to encourage candidates to take part in the elections, an official said. The PEC will announce the date for a national forum open to all Qatari women to encourage their participation as voters and candidates. "Our main goal is to activate political participation in the Qatari community by holding meetings, seminars, training courses," said Shaikha Aisha. "We need to raise voter awareness about their rights and duties and to introduce them to the electoral process as well as to encourage candidates to acquire the necessary democratic skills." Speaking to Gulf News, Khalid Bin Jabor Al Thani, secretary general of PEC, said women will play a decisive role in the elections. "We at the committee believe women will be the backbone in the elections and will play an important role in boosting public participation," he said. "Another important player will be non-governmental organisations. After observing other countries' experiences, we believe they play a big role in determining candidates' selection and political programmes." Al Thani said PEC will work with women and students to promote their participation. "It is time to encourage people and non-governmental organisations to express their views, to take part in their society's growth and shaping". Fatma Al Khatir, director of the internal office at the State Audit and the first Qatari woman to become auditor, said Qatari women are ready to enter politics. "We aim to have more candidates� I believe there are women who are very efficient and ready to perform well as members of parliament". Fatma, one of the two Qatari women selected to take part in the Good Governance Programme organised by the UK Government in September, said Qatar was the only Arab country to send two female delegates. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Take a look at donorschoose.org, an excellent charitable web site for anyone who cares about public education! http://us.click.yahoo.com/_OLuKD/8WnJAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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