Bahrain: municipal elections are a test for political reforms
Bahrain, Politics, 5/9/2002

Bahraini citizens head today ( Thursday) for the first time since 23 years to select members of the municipal council in elections viewed as a test for democratic reforms in Bahrain.

The last time municipal elections held in that country was in the 1960s. Since then the political leadership used to appoint members of the councils. However, the elections in which women for the first time participate within the efforts made by the Kingdom of Bahrain to end decades of sectarian tensions and to permit the common people of Bahrain especially the Shiite who represent the majority to have the greater opinion regarding their country's affairs.

Official statistics reveal that 306 candidates including 31 women are competing on 50 seats with an average of 10 seats in each of the five Bahraini provinces. But the government will appoint the heads of the councils.

These elections, however, come after the first parliamentary elections to be held in the country in October since some three decades.

Worthy mentioning that unemployment rate in Bahrain is the highest in the Gulf region. In 1975 Sheikh Issa Bin Salman al-Khaleifa, the late ruler of Bahrain dissolved the first elected parliament just two years after its formation and formed instead of it a consultation Shoura council whose members were appointed by him personally. A matter which provoked more tensions. The current King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa dissolved the differences by introducing political and economic reforms since he assumed power after the death of his father in 1999.

The king pardoned political prisoners and canceled the emergency laws and brought back to the country several exiled peoples. He also proposed a reform plan on the referendum which was the first experience in Bahrain since independence from Britain in 1971 to have people's support. Yet, protests erupted again in April with most of these protests led by Shiites denouncing the Israeli military campaign against the Palestinians.

Last Monday, the King urged the people of Bahrain to take part in the referendum on the reforms. He said that every vote in these elections and other elections are a step towards embodying the desire of the people. More than 237,000 Bahraini are eligible to cast their votes in the elections including men and women aging 21 year old or more, besides Saudis, Kuwaitis, Qatari, UAE and Omani peoples of permanent residency in Bahrain who have property in the country. The government of Bahrain also designed an Internet site on which it will show the results of voting.

Previous Stories:
  Difficult battle faces Bahraini women candidates for municipal elections   (5/8/2002)
  Bahraini demonstration on May Day   (5/2/2002)
  Saudi crown prince, King of Bahrain hold telephone conversations   (5/2/2002)
  Bahrain: al-Jamri stressed the need for introducing reforms   (5/1/2002)
  Bahrain: increasing demands to expel the American ambassador   (4/15/2002)
  King of Bahrain: the march of democracy will continue   (4/10/2002)

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