| Parliament name |
National Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Majlis Al-Nuwab / Council of Representatives |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Majlis Al-Shura / Shura Council
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) (from/to) | 25 November 2006
2 December 2006 |
| Purpose of elections |
Elections were held for all the seats in the Council of Representatives on the normal expiry of the members' term of office. |
On 26 November 2006
parliamentary elections were held for the third time in the Kingdom of Bahrain
which has been ruled by the Al-Khalifa family since 1782.
Although political parties are prohibited (see note)
in the previous elections in 2002
19 seats were reportedly won by members of Islamic societies
while the remainder went to independent or secular liberal candidates. The Islamic National Accord Association (INAA
also known as Al Wefaq)
led by the Shiite cleric Sheik Ali Salman
boycotted the elections
essentially in protest against constitutional amendments giving the Shura Council
composed of 40 members appointed by the King
legislative powers equal to the Council of Representatives.
In the 2006 elections
207 candidates
including 18 women
contested the 40 seats in the Council of Representatives. More than half of the candidates were independents
while the remainder were affiliated to political societies. The INAA fielded 17 candidates and formed an alliance with the National Democratic Action Association (NDAA)
a leftist liberal opposition group. Pro-government groups included the Sunni National Islamic Tribune Association (Al Menbar
representing the Muslim Brotherhood)
and its ally
the Assala Association. The Sunni National Islamic Tribune Association backed some female candidates
arguing that women's political rights are not counter to Islam. The INAA leader
Sheik Ali Salman
pledged to revoke the recent laws on counter-terrorism and associations
which he considered as endangering civil liberties. He also promised to revise the electoral constituencies
seen as favouring pro-government Sunni candidates.
In the first round of voting on 29 November 2006
approximately 72 per cent of 295
000 registered voters turned out at the polls. The INAA won 16 seats and pro-government candidates took a total of 13 seats. An independent candidate
Mrs. Lateefa Al Guood
became the first female member of the Council of Representatives.
Candidates for the remaining 11 seats took part in run-off elections on 2 December 2006
for which 69 per cent of registered voters turned out. Pro-government candidates took nine more seats
bringing their total to 22
while the INAA-led opposition camp took two
giving it 18 seats in the Council of Representatives.
On 10 December
Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa formed a new government. For the first time in the Sunni-ruled kingdom
a Shiite Muslim
Mr. Jawad bin Salem Al-Oraied
was named as a deputy prime minister.
King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa inaugurated the newly elected Council of Representatives on 15 December 2006. The INAA members boycotted the session to protest the "marginalization" of the country's Shiite majority. On 19 December
Mr. Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Dhahrani was re-elected unopposed as the Speaker at the second session of the Council of Representatives
again boycotted by the INAA members.
A royal decree issued on 5 December appointed 40 members to the Shura Council
including 10 women. Mr. Ali Saleh Al-Saleh was appointed as its Speaker at its inaugural session
also convened on 15 December.
Note:
The law of 1989 prohibiting political parties was revised in July 2005. Although political parties are still banned
political "societies" have been legalized. |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 25 November 2006 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
295'686
72%
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Round no 2 | 2 December 2006 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
295'686
73.6%
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| Islamic National Accord Association (INAA
Al Wefaq) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| National Islamic Tribune Association (Al Menbar) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Assala Association |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round no 2
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| Independents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| National Islamic Tribune Association (Al Menbar) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Assala Association |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Islamic National Accord Association (INAA
Al Wefaq) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
Grand total |
|
|
|
| Islamic National Accord Association (INAA
Al Wefaq) |
16
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents |
5
|
|
|
|
|
| National Islamic Tribune Association (Al Menbar) |
4
|
|
|
|
|
| Assala Association |
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round no 2
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
Grand total |
|
|
|
| Independents |
6
|
11 |
|
|
|
| National Islamic Tribune Association (Al Menbar) |
3
|
7 |
|
|
|
| Assala Association |
1
|
5 |
|
|
|
| Islamic National Accord Association (INAA
Al Wefaq) |
1
|
17 |
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
39
1
2.50%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
