Civic, social and economic issues become topics of Bahrain electoral debate

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

From electricity and water bills to unemployment and traffic jams, all civic issues are finding a place in the electoral slogans raised by the Bahraini candidates as they attempt to woo the voters since the filing of nominations.

Woman candidates have added “empowerment of women” as well to the agenda.

Manal Ibrahim, who is contesting from the eighth constituency of Southern Governorate Municipal Council, said she intends the democratic empowerment of Bahraini women by contesting in polls.

“The Southern Governorate Municipal Council has maximum male members and I want to make a difference by contesting in polls.”

Among the 561 candidates contesting in 40 parliamentary and 30 municipal council seats, 107 are women, creating a milestone in the empowerment of women within the democratic process.

Candidate Ibrahim Al Nafii has an electoral agenda that calls for setting up more colleges catering to Bahraini students.

He wants these colleges to be affiliated to the University of Bahrain and should offer courses related to agriculture and petroleum engineering.

Candidate Ahmed Al Salloum is ambitious in legislating laws that exclusively reserve many jobs for Bahrainis. He also seeks more projects under the public housing schemes apart from suggesting amendments to the Commercial Registration laws.

Former Parliament member Ali Yaqoub Al Muqla said he is running for the polls to work on behalf of the citizens supporting their needs.

He also wants to contribute towards His Majesty’s welfare projects that are vital to the progress of the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, many poll hopefuls are waiting to hear on their appeals after their nominations were rejected by the electoral committee over criminal accusations, address issues, absence of name in the voters’ list as well as lack of Arabic proficiency.

Among the prominent citizens whose candidatures were rejected was Hassan Rajab and Hamid Samir, who filed the nomination to represent the Second Electoral Constituency of the Capital Governorate.

Former lawmaker Ali Shamout’s candidature was as well rejected.

Saeed Al Sammak, who filed the nomination to represent the Sixth Electoral Constituency in the Capital Governorate, also had his candidature rejected while Isa Rabie’s (Eighth Electoral Constituency) nomination was subjected to rejection by the electoral authorities.

Speaking to members of the media earlier, Issa Sami Al Mannai, the Undersecretary for Justice and Islamic Affairs within the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, said potential candidates can file appeals through the national portal bahrain.bh.

“The electronic appeals service that can be found in the electoral website will be available round the clock during this specific period and the ministry has issued a set of guidelines for the process.”

According to the law, any potential candidate has the right to appeal the decision by the electoral supervisory committee before higher judicial authorities and a decision will be taken by the higher judicial authority within seven days of filing the appeal.

The committees must issue their final decisions by October 15, which can be challenged in court no later than October 18, and the court rulings must be issued by October 25. The final list of candidates will be announced on October 26.

The Kingdom will head to the polls on November 12 with a run-off fixed on November 19.