DUBAI, 2 December 2005 — The United Arab Emirates yesterday announced partial elections to the Federal National Council (FNC). The announcement was made on the eve of the country’s national day and 13 months after the founder of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed ibn Sultan Al-Nahayan, passed away.
In a statement carried by the official WAM news agency, President Sheikh Khalifa ibn Zayed Al-Nahayan said half of the members of the Council would be elected while the remainder would be appointed as part of a “new effort to make the house more dynamic and energetic.”
The move comes amid growing American pressure on Arab countries to adopt democracy. The 22 members of the Arab League are unanimous that such changes should not be imposed by outside forces and that each country should be free to adopt its own reforms after taking into consideration the realities on the ground and domestic imperatives, particularly the tribal foundations.
Sheikh Khalifa said the move aimed at allowing wider participation of the citizens of the country in decision-making. “Through a gradual, organized course, we have decided to start activating the role of the FNC through electing half of its members through councils for each emirate and appointing the other half,’’ Sheikh Khalifa said.
“By doing this, we will embark on a march that culminates into more participation and interaction from all the citizen of the country,” he said.
Sheikh Khalifa said he envisaged a bigger role for the FNC. “Considering the developments in our region, which is now witnessing transformation and reforms, the years ahead in our blessed march require a bigger role for the FNC by empowering it to be an authority that would provide great support and guidance for the executive arm of the government.
“We shall work to make the Council more capable, more effective and more sensitive to the issues affecting the nation and the people. This would be done by ensuring a more participatory process and the entrenchment of Shoura (consultation) policy.
“The strengthening of our federation’s march and national unity and our continuous pursuance of sustainable development require hard work to boost the existing strong cooperation between the local and federal authorities. We also need to push forward for more fruitful coordination for our common good,’’ he added.
Although there is no political dissent or violence in the relatively liberal UAE, it is the only country without elected bodies in the Gulf after Saudi Arabia held municipal elections earlier this year.
The UAE, an oil producer and booming trading hub, is a close ally of the United States. It is holding talks on a free trade agreement with Washington.
The 40 members of the Council have until now been appointed by the seven semi-autonomous emirates that make up the UAE. Reformists have called for the Council to become an elected Parliament with the power to propose laws and discuss public issues without permission from the Cabinet.
“Finally we have the first step. It’s a gradualist approach the UAE is opting for. It came a bit late, but better late than never,” UAE political analyst Abdul-Khaleq Abdullah said.
Sheikh Khalifa gave no date for the election but a UAE official, who declined to be named, said the vote could take place within months. “This is a first step for the start of a gradual process toward much wider participation in the near future,” the official said.
He said once the FNC meets, there would be amendments to its jurisdiction and authority. There is nothing in existing laws which prevent women from voting or running in the election. The UAE has one woman Cabinet member.
