What is the difference between Gulf & Arab states?
Iran is a Gulf State but not an Arab State (it is Persian). Iran already has an elected Majles (4.8% seats reserved for non- Muslim minorities). Arab states in Middle East + North Africa. Palestine is a “non-member observer state” in the UN.
Iraq is an Arab State in the Gulf, but it is not a monarchy (hence elections are held).It is also not a member of the GCC. Yemen is not a Gulf State, but Arab (not monarchy). Arab monarchies in the Gulf form the GCC (Gulf Co-Operation Council). These states have little trace of democracy, and are often accused of having orthodox laws and abusing labour rights. But winds of change started blowing a decade ago, with the Arab Spring.
On 19th May 2021, Qatar’s cabinet approved a draft law on the nation’s Shura Council elections that are scheduled for October. Shura Council is the top advisory council in the Arab monarchies of the Gulf (not elected bodies). In Qatar, it is to be a 45-member body now – 30 elected and 15 appointed by the Amir.
The Beginnings of Democratization?
In Qatar, plans for a partially elected Shura Council were outlined in the constitution that was ratified in 2003. However, elections have never been held since then. Instead, members of the Shura Council have so far been appointed by the emir. Until now, Qataris have been able to vote only in municipal elections. Political parties are banned. Qataris account for around 10% of the roughly 2.7 million people living in the gas-rich state, most of whom are foreign workers (from South Asia).
Gulf Arab states Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates also have advisory councils.
In the UAE, only those approved by the country’s rulers can participate in voting for candidates for the council. Kuwait and Bahrain both have elected parliaments, which have some influence, though as with all Gulf Arab states, ultimate decision-making rests with the rulers. In November 2020, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani ordered the formation of a committee to organise the vote, after a delay of several years.
How will elections be conducted now?
According to the draft law, government employees are allowed to nominate themselves for Shura Council
membership and keep their jobs if elected. The draft law facilitates the process of voter registration,including electronic registration, and sets a spending limit on electoral campaigning at QAR 2 million per candidate. The origin of the funds will also be supervised. Candidates are obliged to avoid tribal or sectarian rhetoric and need to respect public morals, traditions and religious and
social values of society. Offending other candidates or stirring up strife in any way is also banned under the draft law. The draft law includes provisions to ensure public and private media are impartial in their coverage and treatment of all candidates. Ministers, members of the judiciary, members of all military agencies, and members of the Central Municipal Council are banned from running in the elections, according to the draft law. A committee headed by a judge
chosen by the Supreme Judicial Council will be responsible for supervising the voting and counting process, as well as announcing the results. The draft law also outlines “severe penalties” for electoral offences, such as foreign meddling, vote-buying, or other violations.
Why is this significant?
This is a significant development in line with Qatar's Vision 2030 to increase public participation in policymaking and increasing accountability of the legislative process.The decision to allow Qatar Shura members to be elected by the wider public will increase democracy. The draft law has also increased the legislative power of the Shura Council to have more say over more policy areas.
This is part of Qatar's ambition to have the Shura Council elections represent more closely the actual will of its people – every citizen can run for office to guarantee inclusiveness (except those with a criminal record or members of the armed forces). Qatar says it will put in place monitoring mechanism to ensure the integrity and fairness of the election process –
constituencies will not be based on tribal affiliation but geography to ensure a more egalitarian representation Shura Council.
Shura Council elections in Qatar were only made possible by the Gulf Crisis. GCC states led by Saudi Arabia had repeatedly put pressure on Qatar pre-2017 to ensure that elections were not held, so as to calm expectations in their own kingdoms. Therefore, the new developmentshows Qatar has now become a more independent actor – and is out of the shadows of its other Arab neighbours.
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