New democratic alliance established for upcoming Bahrain elections
dpa German Press Agency
Published: Friday October 6, 2006
Manama- In the island state of Bahrain, nine candidates for the next parliamentary elections scheduled for November 25 on Friday established a new alliance called the National Unity Bloc (NUB). The candidates include former MP Abdulnabi Salman and the lawyer Shahzalan Khamis, a woman.
The alliance said in a statement it hoped to attract the support of those who believe in democratic development and women’s rights.
The NUB candidates intend to promote constitutional reforms in order to place the legislative power entirely in the hands of the elected parliament.
New democratic alliance established for upcoming Bahrain elections
dpa German Press Agency
Published: Friday October 6, 2006
Manama- In the island state of Bahrain, nine candidates for the next parliamentary elections scheduled for November 25 on Friday established a new alliance called the National Unity Bloc (NUB). The candidates include former MP Abdulnabi Salman and the lawyer Shahzalan Khamis, a woman.
The alliance said in a statement it hoped to attract the support of those who believe in democratic development and women’s rights.
The NUB candidates intend to promote constitutional reforms in order to place the legislative power entirely in the hands of the elected parliament.
The alliance would seek to reform the law in order to allow for the establishment of political parties and redraw the constituencies, seeking to distribute them more fairly.
Further items on the NUB programme include the issue of naturalization, which the opposition claims is a tool used by the government to change the demographic balance of the island.
The new bloc also vowed to improve living standards and combat unemployment.
The November elections will be only the second time that Bahrainis will elect fully representative municipal councils and the lower house of the National Assembly.
The first parliamentary elections were held in 2002 after more than three decades during which the Bahraini parliament was disbanded.
Bahraini women secured suffrage rights only in the last elections and voted in large numbers, but none of the female candidates were elected.
© 2006 dpa German Press Agency
