First Shura Council election witnesses overwhelming participation of Qataris

Ashraf Siddiqui Doha Qatari nationals from all segments of the society overwhelmingly participated in the first-ever general legislative elections to choos...

Ashraf SiddiquiDohaQatari nationals from all segments of the society overwhelmingly participated in the first-ever general legislative elections to choose 30 members of the Shura Council in a house of 45 members. The remaining 15 members of the council will be nominated under an Amiri decree by the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Altogether, 234 candidates, including 26 females, contested the Shura Council elections. Polling started at 8am in 30 various polling stations across the country and lasted until 6pm.The voters praised the ease of procedures and the arrangements made by Ministry of Interior to keep smooth and peaceful atmosphere for the process. Khaled Mohamed Shakri, a candidate, said, “I am very happy having an opportunity to serve my country and my nationals.”He expressed hope that people would be casting their votes in favour of the deserving candidates and not for family or friendship sake.Talking to Qatar Tribune, Miss Al Emadi expressed optimism that people would be electing right people who will bring positive change to the society and the Shura Council.She said that Qatari women have been playing a very positive role in the development of the country and towards building the society, stressing that seeing a good number of females contesting the elections would help having a reasonable number of women members in the Shura Council.Holding general elections in Qatar to choose members of the Shura Council made Qatar the second country after Kuwait, among GCC states, to provide rights of electing members of the legislative council. However, Qatar has been conducting general elections to the Central Municipality Council since 2009.