Let’s assume that we actually do have only 100 days left to elect a new parliament in Bahrain; yes, I know that as the talk at the moment is toward the combined session of the Shura Council (appointed) and Chamber of Representatives (elected) around the end of the month might be a signal that the king has finally made up his mind to tell the people when the 2nd full elections in our fledgeling democracy is going to be, and that date might well be before Ramadhan, then it might be that we have a lot less than those 100 days I initially imagined. In fact, as Ramadhan is about to roll over once again on around the 24th of September, and as the law states that elections must be announced 45 days prior to people going to the polls, then the announcement should be no later than the 10th of August. That means we only have 35 days to go for that fateful day!
That, my friends, is “good news” for us. I think I can speak for the whole of Bahrain when I say that we are waiting for it with baited breath. We are totally fed up with this bastardised parliament, one born illegitimately when a large section of the population decided to boycott the inaugural elections 4 years ago due to their belief that the constitution is not the one they signed up for, and broken promises. With so many good people deciding not to stand for elections, the minnows took that once in a lifetime chance, beat their vacant chests, made some noises and were installed in parliament, not for those who elected them then believing in their capabilities; rather, they were the only ones standing! So they gave voice to the local adage: ‘the only man in the village!’
I don’t think I need to recount their “accomplishments” in this first term; everyone knows them by heart, from that effete acquiescing chairman to those sectarian moguls Mohammed Khalid and Jassim Saidi, and everyone in between who ensured that whatever freedoms we had before parliament are almost completely taken away for good: laws of public assembly, peaceful demonstration, press law, terrorism law, law 56, the budgets which have easily passed through and hundreds of other things which they rubber stamped with alacrity by yes-men not worthy to be even valets at the parliament. I am sure that if one takes away the global meteoric rise of the price of oil from calculations, we would have seen the real adverse effect this parliament has had on our quality of life as a nation.
Quality of life? Not their concern and it never was. It is their own quality of life they are concerned with, rather than their electorate’s. Probably the only thing they can take to their graves as an accomplishment is the receipt of pensions ad infinitum because of the single term they have gotten completely by chance.
I know that there are no guarantees that the forthcoming members will be any better, but I hope that with a bigger gene-pool to choose from contesting, we will fair no worse.
We can wait a little longer, it looks like no more than 80 days…..
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Already I read and heard of runners campaigning and unfortunately even buying people’s votes. I read in one of the local newspapers of someone, I believe a municipal councilor, having purchased and distributed ACs among the civilians, which is an obvious and cheap method to gain people’s votes. The sad truth is that many among the local population actually end up voting for these people just because they have bought them or paid them some amount.
I definitely think that this time the elections will be much more competitive with a lot more of participation especially among businessmen and women entering the battle. I surely hope the next elected Chamber of Representatives will show a much more diverse range of individuals representing a wide sect of the community, rather than a narrow lot of simple minded islamists who’s main objectives are to define Islam and tell people how to live their lives!
The Shura Council should also be given newer blood by appointing intellectual and respectable citizens of the Kingdom wanting to serve their country by enhancing it’s status internationally in this age of globalization.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!
More participation? Our parliament is a big joke. A farce. Do you honestly think that any qualified individuals will bother to take time out of their busy schedules to be associated with such a shit-show?
I’m sorry to be so pessimistic Mahmood, yet the more I think about the whole situation, the more I realise how bleak the situation really is. Our parliament has been a mockery from day one. Those very people elected to represent us have, time and time again, gone off in tangents, spun around in circles and accomplished jack! Here’s to hoping that you guys in the motherland actually vote these dimwits out.
Yet, lets look on the bright side. Who needs the circus by Nadi Al-Ahli when you can watch these bunch of clowns at it on TV for free! What a joke.
Looks like I’m (once again!) right in my assumption that the joint National Assembly sitting will be the last for this parliament. (link from Al-Ayam 7/7/06 in Arabic)
Yesterday in my classroom (Hitotsubashi University’s Midde Eastern Research Institute), here in Tokyo, I was sitting with my professor and a few students talking about Japanese democracy and politics, and our conversations then steared towards talking about the situation in Bahrain and the Gulf.
My Master’s research is about comparing the Economic/Poltical/Social History of Bahrain to that of the Gulf states. I am planning on writing my PhD thesis on the Singapore Economic Model and using it as a benchmark for Bahrain’s Econmic development planning.
It’s strange reading the comments in regards to the Parliament in Bahrain and how pessimistic/unaware people are in general about the future.
I just have a few questions; putting in mind the general social structure of the people who are legally capable to vote, what would be the ideal makeup of the parliament for Bahrain? Also, does anyone think that the majority of those voting share the same opinion?
Between now and the announcement of the new parliament/shura council, am I supposed to feel optimistic or offended? Hmmm..
Well, Kuwaitis said they want 5 electoral districts instead of the 25 to curtail corruption… in Bahrain, I think we need just 1. That will end a lot of animosity and vote rigging and we will then concentrate on getting a representative parliament the members of whom will work toward strategic planning and goals for the country, rather than this parliament which really is a glorified municipal council more concerned with building speed-bumps along their own individual elecoral district rather than go after the national ills of unemployment, sectarian strife, corruption, the state of the health services, education, and dirth of land and property for citizens amongst other complaints.
So to keep it short… how about mounting a campaign in Bahrain, a-la Kuwait:
نبّيها ÙˆÙŽØÂْده
NABEEHA WAHDA
Hi there tokyo joe, strange question to which the only answer I have is that the ‘ideal’ composition of parliment is determined by the people who go out and vote, and is, quite frankly, irrelevant.
What is relevant to the progress of the country is that the parliment has a clear directive on what it can do to help the country progress and the roles and responsiblities of MP’s towards their constituants.
As mahmood rather succinctly puts it, “…concentrate on getting a representative parliament the members of whom will work toward strategic planning and goals for the country, […] the national ills of unemployment, sectarian strife, corruption, the state of the health services, education, and dirth of land and property for citizens amongst other complaints.
I always say, if you’re going to try to learn something, check out what the jews are doing…they tend to take the time to think these things through…
Isn’t the average beard length of MPs likely to be longer rather than shorter come the elections?
I had the opportunity to meet two ladies the other evening who will be running for Parliament. One doesn’t have a college degree but has her own business, which is very successful. The other is a professor at a local college.
The one woman without a college degree is somewhat backwards thinking… she has 5 kids and is pregnant with her 6th. Her husband has a 2nd wife and she hates Kuwaitis because he married a Kuwaiti woman. She and 20 other women have been getting training on how to speak in public, on television, and how to answer questions appropriately, etc., but has no agenda for her campaign as of yet.
The professor doesn’t know anyone in Bahrain (having just moved back within the last year from the U.S.) really and hasn’t started campaigning. she didn’t talk about what her goals and such were for Parliament… not once. I talked to her about education and the need for qualified teachers and such, but she didn’t seem interested. She only seemed interested in trashing males.
I found both to be unqualified for many reasons, altho the professor would be a better fit than the other if I had to choose.
Sadly enough, I’m wondering what the pool will look like when it’s election time.
I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Just have a look at the prospective list of Wa’ad.
Serioulsy Mahmood why don’t you run? You are more than qualified and you have a solid background in business. Besides, “Mahmood for Parliament” has a nice ring to it I think!