Bahrain, August 09: Bahrain said it will hold parliamentary elections on October 23, a poll that is not expected to meet demands by the Shi’ite opposition for more political participation in the Gulf Arab state.
Following are some facts about political groups in Bahrain.
RULING FAMILY
The final say on politics in Bahrain rests with the ruling al-Khalifa family from which at least half of cabinet’s ministers and many government officials hail.
Bahrain is led by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, who wields ultimate authority, though Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa has governed the country since independence in 1971.
Analysts and diplomats see Sheikh Khalifa as reluctant to agree to reforms and as mostly concerned with maintaining the ruling family’s control of politics and the economy.
Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, however, is credited with being more open to reforms, in particular economic modernisation. He is viewed as more conscious of the need to provide jobs for the small island kingdom’s young population.
Sheikh Salman chairs the Economic Development Board, which has the last word on all matters related to economic policies.
AL WEFAQ
Al Wefaq is the largest Shi’ite opposition bloc. It boycotted the 2002 election but took part in the 2006 poll in its first foray into national electoral politics, winning 18 out of 40 seats. It currently holds 17 seats after passing one seat to an independent.
Al-Wefaq has said it would field candidates for up to 24 seats but does not expect a significant change in its numbers.
Al Wefaq has sometimes cooperated with Sunni blocs to question the government over the finances and management of state-owned companies as well as opposing state subsidies cuts.
But it has also accused the government of failing to push through political reforms.
HAQ MOVEMENT
The mainly Shi’ite Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy disputes the legitimacy of the political reform process launched by the king a decade ago, and broke ranks with Al Wefaq before the 2006 election, which it boycotted.
Haq will not take part in this year’s poll, and diplomats say voter turnout at the October election will help gauge which group has more Shi’ite support.
Haq’s popularity was underscored when weeks of protests followed the arrest of its leader Hassan Mushaima in January 2009 on charges of plotting to overthrow the government.
Mushaima was pardoned by the king in April of the same year.
AL ASALAH AND AL MENBAR
The Sunni Al Asalah Islamic Society won eight seats in 2006.
The group is part of a wider movement of Islamists who have been vocal in demanding a ban on alcohol sales in Bahrain.
In 2006, Al Asalah coordinated its candidates with fellow Sunni Islamist group Al Menbar National Islamic Society to stand a better chance of winning seats against Al Wefaq.
Al Menbar won seven seats in the same election. It is the political wing of the Al Islah Society, associated with the Muslim Brotherhood.
WAAD
The leftist National Democratic Action Society, or Waad, is a secular group. It took part in the 2006 elections but failed to win any seats. Female academic Munira Fakhro plans to run again for the group and observers say the group could win one or two seats this time.
–UNI