UPDATE – Qataris vote in 1st legislative elections

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Ahmed Yousef

DOHA, Qatar (AA) – Qatari voters began to cast ballot on Saturday in the Gulf state’s first legislative elections.

Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and will close at 6 p.m. (1500 GMT).

Voters will elect 30 members of the 45-seat advisory Shura Council, while the ruling emir will appoint the remaining 15 members.

“I’m happy to participate in this first experiment of legislative elections in Qatar,” Youssef Khaled Al-Khulaifi, a Qatari voter, told Anadolu Agency.

He expressed his gratitude to the Gulf nation’s ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani “for providing this opportunity."

Fatima Al-Misnad, another voter who works as a volunteer with the Qatari Red Crescent, was enthusiastic about the nascent democratic experience in Qatar, wishing all candidates success in the Shura Council elections.

Another voter, Hamad Al-Muraiziq, hailed on Twitter the voting process as “very smooth and organized."

For her part, female judge Sheikha Maha Mansour Al Thani said the voter turnout has “exceeded expectations”, noting that no difficulties have been reported at polling stations thanks to “the presence of a disciplined organization from state institutions and a high degree of awareness among voters."

A total of 234 candidates are contesting in the polls to win seats in the advisory and legislative body, which discusses and approves general state policies, budgets and draft law proposals.

On July 29, Sheikh Tamim approved an electoral law that allows the Qataris to run and elect 30 of the council's seats in secret and direct voting.

The body that traces its history back to 1972 has powers to discuss the general policies, including the country's budget, drafting of law proposals and observing the performance of the government, as well as the power to question ministers.

The legislative polls come ahead of Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup next year.

*Writing by Ibrahim Mukhtar