Set back for Arab Parliament Speaker Adel Al Asoomi in upcoming Bahrain elections

TDT | Manama              

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

Adel Al Asoomi’s candidature was rejected by the electoral committee after accepting the claims in the complaint filed by his opposing candidate Murad Ali Murad. Mr Asoomi can now appeal the decision with higher judicial electoral authority.

With the removal of Mr Asoomi from the list of candidates, the number of candidates contesting in the First Constituent Seat of the Capital Governorate has been reduced to two. Murad Ali and Muhammad Janahi are the existing two candidates.

Mr Asoomi, an incumbent lawmaker, has been an active member of the parliament and he has raised and highlighted many issues of public concern. In the 2002 Bahraini general election, he lost the runoff for the First District of the Capital Governorate with 373 votes for 43.83 per cent, defeated by Saadi Muhammad of Al Menbar Islamic Society.

However, Al Asoomi won their rematch in the 2006 polls with 2,383 votes for 68.62pc, a 1,293-vote margin. In the 2010 elections, he won with 1,878 votes for 65.30pc, followed by a 2014 runoff win with 2,265 votes for 54.50pc, a 374- vote margin over Al Menbar’s candidate Khalid Sulaibikh. He had an easy victory in 2018 polls from the First Constituent Seat, which covers Hoora and Gudaibiya.

Well-known across the Arab world, Adel Al Asoomi was re-elected as Arab Parliament Speaker a few days ago becoming the first Bahraini to hold the post for two years. Mr Asoomi received 51 votes against 15 votes received by the opponent in a contest to secure the post with UAE lawmaker Mohammed Al Yamahi .

The deadline to file appeals regarding the rejection of candidatures ended on Wednesday. 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.