Doha: The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani today in tweet urged citizens to register for voting in Shura Council election.
“By issuing a law on the electoral system for the Shura Council; we call on our citizens to register in the voter registers starting from August 1 to ensure a broad participation befitting this historic entitlement, which establishes a new stage of Qatari citizen’s participation in public affairs and contribution to making the future and prosperity of the country,” Prime Minister tweeted.
The Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani issued laws for the first legislative election in October, which will see Qataris elect two-thirds of the advisory Shura Council.
Shura Council, which according to one of the new laws, will have legislative authority and approve general state policies and the budget. It will also exercise control over the executive, except for bodies defining defence, security, economic and investment policy.
The electoral law approved on Thursday states that citizens aged 18 and over, and whose grandfather was born in Qatar, can vote in districts in which their tribe or family reside. Thirty electoral districts will each choose one representative.
Candidates must be of Qatari origin and at least 30 years old. The law caps campaign spending at 2 million riyals ($550,000).
(inputs from agencies)
