Bahraini al-Wifaq society threatens to boycott the elections
Bahrain, Politics, 5/13/2005

The Islamic national reconciliation ( al-Wifaq) society announced it will boycott the parliamentary elections due in Bahrain in 2006 if constitutional reforms will not be introduced to the country.

The society, which the largest Shiite opposition group, said that its general assembly refused any positive dealing with the next parliamentary elections in 2006 unless a constitutional reform is introduced in which the ruler complies with citizens. The society explained that this reform is to limit the specialization of the parliament to legislation and auditing of the performance of the executive authority.

In a statement, the society demanded the Shoura council to continue to be only for consultation rather than to be given the same authorities enjoyed by the parliament.

The statement added that the general assembly for ( al-Wifaq) approved gradual transformation from a "society' to an integrated modern political party and to develop the society's consultation commission through strengthening its authorities.

Political parties are banned in Bahrain, the same as other states in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Al-Wifaq society which represents the main trend among the Shiite in Bahrain is one of four political societies which boycotted the legislative elections by the end of 2002 in protest to constitutional amendments that date back to 1973 and in particular related to sharing the legislation authority between the elected parliament and the appointed Shoura council.

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  Accusation against Bahrain government of suppressing freedoms under pretext of fighting terrorism   (4/5/2005)
  Demonstration in Bahrain for amending the constitution   (3/26/2005)
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