DOHA, 28 April 2003 — Qatar holds its first referendum tomorrow seeking popular approval for a written constitution as the Gulf monarchy opens up to a local form of democracy without political parties. “The setting up of political parties which historically have not existed in Qatar or the Gulf in general,” is not mentioned in the draft constitution, admitted Mohammad Jaham Al-Kuwari, spokesman for the referendum.

“The nature of social relationships has not favoured the emergence of parties,” in the conservative Muslim region where a tribal system predominates, he explained. Anticipating criticism of the 150-clause constitution, Kuwari however did not exclude political parties at a later stage in the development of Qatar. It would depend on “changes in society and the constitutional structures,” he said, noting a constitution “is never rigid.”

Qatar, which has no more than 150,000 nationals among a population of 650,000, “lives in harmony and the limited number of Qataris does not help in setting up parties,” said political science professor Mohammed Al-Mesfer. “Partisan tendencies in a small society could even lead to a strong return of tribalism,” noted the Qatar University academic.

An opposition movement appeared in 2001 under the name of the General Congress of the Qatari Opposition and published several statements abroad criticising the emir, Sheikh Hamad ibn Khalifa Al-Thani. Opponents to the emir live in exile, but the new constitution stipulates that no Qatari citizen can be banned from the country. Doha is falling in line with international law and human rights, Kuwari said.

However, former justice minister Mohammed Nejib Al-Nuaimi noted that the relevant clause in the draft “does not rule out depriving a Qatari of his nationality.” The new constitution provides for the separation of executive, legislative and judicial powers, keeping executive power in the hands of the emir and his Cabinet and stressing the need for an “independent” judiciary. Legislative power would be vested in a Shoura (consultative) Council made up of 45 members, two thirds of whom would be elected and the rest appointed by the emir.

Elections are widely expected to be held in 2004 for the council, which would have a four-year mandate. The document keeps rule in the hands of the Al-Thani family, stating that the Gulf state’s rulers will be descendants of the incumbent emir, with the office passing to the son of the emir designated by him as crown prince. The Shoura Council would be entitled to question ministers and to bring down a minister through a no-confidence vote by a two-thirds majority.

The constitution provides for freedom of opinion and “association” without sanctioning political parties.

The document also offers “equal rights and duties for all citizens.”

A total of 125 fixed and mobile polling stations have been set up for the vote by the 24,000 Qataris over the age of 18.