Main political players in Bahrain’s elections
By AFP
Middle East Times
Published November 23, 2006
Bahrain, which goes to the polls Saturday to elect a new parliament and local councils, has more than a dozen active political “associations.” Political parties remain banned, as they are in other Gulf monarchies.
Following are the main political associations, most of which are fielding candidates in the race for the 40-seat parliament:
– The Islamic National Accord Association (INAA), the main political formation of the Shiite majority and the biggest opposition group in the Sunni-ruled state.
Main political players in Bahrain’s elections
By AFP
Middle East Times
Published November 23, 2006
Bahrain, which goes to the polls Saturday to elect a new parliament and local councils, has more than a dozen active political “associations.” Political parties remain banned, as they are in other Gulf monarchies.
Following are the main political associations, most of which are fielding candidates in the race for the 40-seat parliament:
– The Islamic National Accord Association (INAA), the main political formation of the Shiite majority and the biggest opposition group in the Sunni-ruled state.
The INAA is heir to the Bahrain Freedom Movement (BFM), which played a key role in Shiite-led anti-government protests in the 1990s that sought the restoration of the elected parliament scrapped in 1975.
The INAA boycotted the legislative elections in 2002, as did three other opposition groups. This time around, INAA chief Sheikh Ali Salman heads the group’s list of 17 candidates for parliament.
– The National Democratic Action Association (NDAA), an opposition alliance of leftists, pan-Arab nationalists, and independents, was the first political association to be licensed in September 2001 after the launching of a reform process. Considered the heir of the leftist Popular Front of Bahrain, it boycotted the 2002 polls but is fielding six candidates Saturday on a “list for change.”
– The Islamic Action Association (IAA), another Shiite opposition grouping, is successor to the Bahrain Islamic Liberation Front, which was accused of plotting a coup to topple the government in 1981. It boycotted the 2002 elections, but three of its activists are standing for office this year as independents.
– The Nationalist Democratic Rally Association (NDRA), an opposition pan-Arab nationalist group that includes pro-Baath activists. The NDRA, which shunned the 2002 polls, has three members or sympathizers standing as candidates this year.
– The Democratic Progressive Forum Association (DPFA), a leftist grouping considered the successor of the Bahrain National Liberation Front, was set up in 1955 as the first communist party in the Gulf region. The DPFA is fielding a list of 10 candidates. Three members or sympathizers won mandates in the 2002 polls.
– The Arab Islamic Center Association, known as Al Wasat, groups Nasserist and Islamist activists. It took part in the 2002 elections without winning any seats, and is also participating in Saturday’s ballot.
There are two main Sunni Islamist associations, which have forged an electoral alliance for the upcoming polls:
– The National Islamic Tribune Association (NITA) is the political arm of the Islah (Reform) Society, the local chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood, which was set up in the late 1940s, had seven MPs in the outgoing parliament.
– The Assala (Authenticity) Association is the political arm of the Islamic Education Society, which represents the purist rigorous Salafi current. Had six MPs in the outgoing chamber.
There also two main political movements which have yet to be licensed as associations:
– Haq, or Movement of Liberties and Democracy, a mainly Shiite group with some prominent Sunni opposition figures, broke away from the INAA last year. It is the main force boycotting Saturday’s polls in protest against the government’s failure to introduce constitutional reforms to abolish an appointed consultative council that shares legislative power with the elected parliament.
– The National Justice Movement groups independent and Islamist activists. Its leader, lawyer Abdullah Hashem, is one of several candidates fielded by the group.
Copyright © 2006 News World Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
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