More than 111,000 Bahrainis to elect new 18 MPs
More than 111,500 Bahrainis are expected to cast their ballots in September to elect 18 lawmakers in the country’s first parliamentary by-elections.
The new MPs to be elected on September 24 will replace the 18 lawmakers who represented Al Wefaq Islamic Society in the lower chamber and who resigned in February to protest against the way the authorities handled a sit-in at the former Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Roundabout, popularly known as the Pearl Roundabout, the epicentre of the protests.
The mass resignation, decided by Al Wefaq after an internal vote by the lawmakers, was initially not accepted by the remaining 22 MPs who said that the society should reconsider its stance.
However, when Al Wefaq insisted on presenting the resignations, the lower chamber accepted them, a move that stripped the resigning lawmakers of their parliamentary immunity and other related privileges. The largest opposition society held the position of deputy speaker, the second most powerful position in the lower chamber. Two of its former MPs have been detained for their alleged role in the security unrest and political turmoil that hit the country earlier this year.
Under the parliament rules, Al Wefaq has the right to present candidates for the 18 vacancies.
“Voters will have to check their names on the lists between August 1 and August 7,” sources said. “We expect 111,814 voters to be eligible to cast their ballots.”
Several participants in a national dialogue expected to conclude this week have called for greater powers for the lower chamber, including the right to accept or reject the nomination of ministers and the right to grill ministers publicly.
The talks involved more than 300 people to shape together the future of Bahrain following its worst political and social crisis in its modern history.
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