The state of Qatar is gearing up to hold the seventh Central Municipal Council (CMC) election, which is scheduled to be held on June 22. Over two decades back, the country held its first CMC election to choose members to represent the 29 constituencies. The landmark election was held on March 8, 1999, with 84 candidates contesting for the 29 posts.
The election to the Council, held every four years, is very remarkable as it gives an opportunity for the people to get involved and be part of the decision-making and policy-making process. The final list of candidates published by the Ministry of Interior on Sunday showed that 110 candidates including 4 women will be contesting from the 29 constituencies in this edition of the election.
According to Article 8 of Law No. 12 of 1998 concerning the Regulation of the Central Municipal, the CMC has the following responsibilities: Monitoring the implementation of laws, decrees and regulations that fall under the responsibilities of the Ministry and the Council, including laws, decrees and regulations related to urban and industrial planning, infrastructure and other public systems and overseeing the economic, financial and administrative management of municipal affairs and agriculture.
The CMC election has a lot of significance as it offers a chance for the citizens to participate in governance. It gives a say in the day-to-day functions of the State to the electorate through holding transparent elections where all citizens get a chance to run for office, a right which is guaranteed under the provisions of the permanent constitution of the State of Qatar in 2004.
The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) is running a campaign aiming to educate nationals about their rights and duties to elect representatives in the polls. They have been urging every voter to participate in the process as this would reflect positively on society and set an example for the younger generation by instilling the civic sense every citizen should possess. By electing the most competent candidate one ensures a better future for the State and its people.
NHRC had very eloquently and concisely summarized that “the transparent general elections are an advanced mechanism to embody the principle of citizen participation and affirm the values of equal citizenship and national responsibility.”
The right to vote is a fundamental pillar that citizens of Qatar enjoy and is not available in scores of nations around the world. Every person who is eligible to vote should take this as a responsibility towards nation-building and make it a big success.
