Qatar holds first legislative elections

A woman holds a leaflet for the candidate for Qatar’s Shura council elections in the 17th constituency, Leena Nasser al-Dafa, during a campaign event in Doha, on Sept 26, 2021, ahead of Qatar's inaugural legislative polls. (PHOTO / AFP)

DOHA – Qataris go to the polls on Saturday in the Gulf Arab state's first legislative elections, to choose two-thirds of the advisory Shura Council.

Thirty members of the 45-seat body will be elected, while the ruling emir will continue to appoint the remaining 15 members of the Council, which will have legislative authority and approve general state policies and the budget.

Thirty members of the 45-seat Shura Council will be elected, while the ruling emir will continue to appoint the remaining 15 members of the Council, which will have legislative authority and approve general state policies and the budget

The Council has no control over executive bodies setting defense, security, economic and investment policy for the small but wealthy gas producer, which bans political parties. 

The legislative polls, approved in a 2003 constitutional referendum, come ahead of Doha hosting the World Cup soccer tournament next year. 

Eighteen women are standing from among around 183 candidates hoping to be elected at polling stations across 30 districts in the country, which has for several years held municipal elections.

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Campaigning has taken place on social media, community meetings and roadside billboards.

The election indicates Qatar's ruling al-Thani family is "taking seriously the idea of symbolically sharing power, but also effectively sharing power institutionally with other Qatari tribal groups," said Allen Fromherz, director of Georgia State University's Middle East Studies Center.

A Voting 'Experiment'

Qatar's deputy prime minister and foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani last month described the vote as a new "experiment" and said the Council cannot be expected from the first year to have the "full role of any parliament".

Kuwait is currently the only Gulf monarchy to give substantial powers to an elected parliament though ultimate decision-making rests with the ruler, as in neighbouring states.

The polls have stirred tribal sensitivities after some members of a main tribe found themselves ineligible to vote under a law restricting voting to Qataris whose family was present in the country before 1930. 

The foreign minister has said there is a "clear process" for the electoral law to be reviewed by the next Shura Council.

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