The Significance of Elections in the Gulf Region

Article

The significance of elections in the Gulf region

Abdulnabi Alekry

Bahrain Center for Studies and Research (BCSR). E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 28 April, 2008

INTRODUCTION

The year 2006 witnessed parliamentary elections in 3 of the 25 electoral districts to 5 electoral districts was the GCC countries namely, Kuwait, Bahrain and UAE. revived. On the other hand, the rule, under the euphoria So, the question raised is to the significance of these of victory of Aljaber faction versus Alsalem faction, ma- elections to the concerned country and to the Gulf region neuvered not to adopt the popular demand to diminish as a whole. But the context in which the elections were the electoral districts from 25 to 5 electoral districts, pro- held varies from one country to another. posing instead to diminish to 10 electoral, conditional of Kuwait is the oldest and most established preliminary constitutional court approval, which means indefinite experience in the Gulf. In Kuwait, the parliamentary elec- delay. tions is a norm, which has been practiced since indepen- This defiance brought outcry of 30 MPs of different dence in 1962, with the exception of 2 suspension political shades and a popular alliance of youth and periods (1976 - 1980) and (1986 - 1991). Even though re- women who formed spontaneous movement that pressu- presentative councils in the individual, GCC countries are rized the MPs to reject government proposal and short of being true parliaments and short of full legislative withdraw from Majles Aloma when voting started, thus and monitoring authority, Kuwait parliament (Majlis foiled government maneuver. The movement became to Aloma) is the closest to that term. The Kuwait Alsobah be known as the orange movement, with slogan “Labia rules resorted to dissolving Majlis Aloma, whenever it Khamsa’, which means ‘we want 5 districts’. showed strong will and defiance. It was dissolved in The amir dissolved the Majlis, but decreed for fresh August 1976 to avert interrogating Alsobah senior mini- election. This election, held on 29 June, 2006, is unpre- sters and was suspended for 4 years. In 1986, it was cedented for many reasons. dissolved again because of its opposition to the amend- ment of the Constitution and was resumed only after the i) The women were granted the right of voting and eviction of Iraqi occupation off Kuwait in 1991. The Rule candidacy for the first time. The women electoral block could not either salvage faced national assembly or surpassed men‘s electoral block, which is of significance enforce constitutional amendments. In order to secure to all candidates and political groups. Women rights and popular legitimacy, while the country was under occupa- role was at the heart of the candidates’ agenda and pro- tion, Al-Sbah pledged to restore the parliament after grams. Even Muslim fundamentalist candidates acknow- liberation, which they fulfilled. ledged these rights and addressed women public directly. th The latest election on 29 June, 2006 is of great ii) Several women were candidates and some with radical significant, not only for Kuwait, but for the whole Gulf for agenda, such as Dr. Rola Dashti, a women rights cam- many reasons. Crises aroused upon the death of late paigner. Though none of the women candidates, won, ruler amir Jaber Aljaber Alsobah, while the crown prince some posed a real challenge to male candidates, espe- and supposedly successor, Saad Alsalim Alsobah (of cially the Isalmest. different branch) was practically unfit for rule. Sqable for iii) The popular block pursued during the election cam- amir post forced the cabinet, headed by the brother of the paighn that the candidates adopt in their agenda the 5 deceased amir, Sobah Aljaber Alsobah, contestant for districts lowering the electoral age and redressing women the amir post, to resort to Majlis Aloma, to cast legitimacy and youth demands. on the takeover, which was secured. Contrary to norms, amir Sobah appointed Nawaf as crown prince and Nas- Despite that no female candidates won, nevertheless the ser as prime minister, both belonging to Aljaber branch. attitude towards women agenda changed for better. Majlis Aloma, felt its power and so long prospected Those in favor of 5 districts became a majority, knowing proposal to remedy the electoral system, by diminishing that ministers are defacto MPs. The rule adapted by 5

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electoral districts, which was adopted unanimously by the The electoral process proved basic conclusions: parliament. I) The Rule opted to Islamest Sunnis against non-sectarian democrats, including non-opposition women and IMPORTANT CONCLUSIONS men candidates, thus contributed to sectarian polarized parliament, which casts doubts on democratization and i) The power demonstrated by the public, especially reform process. women and youth, is unprecedented on Kuwaiti political ii) At least 4 of the demo. life. It forced electoral reform on the government. ii) Though the Islamests, won more seats, lost by the liberals and the women, the result of the coming election could be different, due to the fact that the rule of the game changed, shifting from 25 to 5 districts, conditional of forging alliance between the liberals and women candidates. Bahrain witnessed both parliamentary and municipal election at the same time. This is the second election, held under the new ruler, who preceded resuming parlia- menttary life, democratization and reform. The election was based on the new constitution th proclaimed on 14 February, 2002, which minimized the role of the elected body, for the interest of other of other tentative authorities (The king, the prime minister, Majles AlSura (the appointed body). The election was held according to electoral districts demarcation which is in favor of Sunni Islamest loyalists, on the account of both Shea Islamests and the liberal democrats (inequitable formula). To make things worse, general electoral posts were envisaged, where voter could vote outside his district, intended to manipulate the military and recently naturalized votes. The result was catastrophic. The Sunni Islamests loyalists won 22 votes, the Shea Islamest opposition won 18 votes and the non-sectarian democrats lost. So we have polarized sectarian parliament, where the rule has a majority and could pose as an arbitrator between 2 sectarian forces.