QATAR: Candidates in Qatar begin campaigning ahead of this year's Central Municipal Council elections

Record ID: 345748

  • Title: QATAR: Candidates in Qatar begin campaigning ahead of this year's Central Municipal Council elections
  • Date: 25th March 2007
  • Summary: VARIOUS TRAFFIC IN STREET/ CAMPAIGN POSTERS SIGN READING 'VOTING IS YOUR NATIONAL DUTY'
  • Embargoed: 9th April 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Qatar
  • Country: Qatar
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA11ETA6ZGBQ7ZWFMIUA87XUQWV
  • Story Text: Campaign posters fill the streets of Doha with different parties and candidates announcing their electoral platforms, aiming to attract as many voters as possible ahead of the April 1 Central Municipal Council (CMC) elections.
    A total of 28,153 nationals are eligible to vote for candidates running in the country's third CMC elections. Over two-thirds of Qatar's population are not nationals and are not eligible to vote.
    While the 29-member body has limited, consultative powers, it is the only institution that can provide ministers with advice regarding municipal issues.
    Ibrahim Haydous, chairman of the Central Municipal Council, said the CMC and the elections are a good test of democracy, allowing Qatari nationals to become more proactive in decision making and national dialogue.
    "If we look at the objectives (of the municipal elections), if they are to allow for the practice of democracy and allow for participation in decision making and encourage dialogue to take place, then these (elections) show that there is progress in this regard," Haydous said.
    With the elections less than two weeks away, candidates are now busy with their campaigning, setting up campaigning tents -- marquee-type constructions fitted with air-conditioning and lighting -- and organising promotional activities to inform their voters of their electoral platforms.
    Even though turnout at the campaign events has thus far been low, officials say they expect a high turnout on polling day.
    Suffrage in Qatar is limited to the CMC elections, and many candidates say they welcome the participation of three women in this year's elections.
    ''The participation of Qatari women in the municipal elections is a good thing. Qatari women have proven their presence (by participating in the elections), like Sheikha al-Jufeiry. There are of course obstacles that are unavoidable, but overcoming these obstacles through the law and the relationship between (the different parties involved) and the women candidates themselves -- this will help the women candidates strengthen their presence in the municipal council,'' said Jasem al-Malki of the "al-Doha al-Jadeeda" political party who will be re-running in this year's elections.
    None of the six women candidates in Qatar's first CMC elections in 1999 were elected, but the only woman to run in the 2003 elections, Sheikha al-Jufeiry, won a seat in the council. She is re-running in this year's elections.
    The municipal council in Qatar was formed in the 1950's, but it was only in 1999 that direct elections for members of the body were held, with 248 candidates contesting for the four-year term.
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