2021 Qatari general election

Last updated

2021 Qatari general election
Flag of Qatar.svg
2 October 2021

30 of the 45 seats in the Consultative Assembly
Turnout~63.5%
Party%Seats
Independents 10030
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Chairman of the Consultative Assembly beforeChairman of the Consultative Assembly after
Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud
Independent
Hassan bin Abdulla Al-Ghanim
Independent

General elections were held in Qatar for the first time on 2 October 2021, following an announcement by the Emir of Qatar on 22 August 2021. [1] The elections for the Consultative Assembly were originally scheduled for the second half of 2013, [2] but were postponed in June 2013 until at least 2016. [3] In 2016 they were postponed again. [4] Finally, in November 2020, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani pledged to hold the election in October 2021. [5]

Contents

Background

The elections were originally scheduled to be held in the last six months of 2013, but were postponed prior to the retiring Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani transferring power to his son Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. [6] The Consultative Assembly's term was extended until 2016 [7] and then until 2019. [4]

In October 2019 Al Thani issued an order for a committee to be formed to organise the elections, chaired by Prime Minister Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani. [8]

Electoral system

Men and women aged over 18 are eligible to vote for 30 of the 45 seats in the Consultative Assembly according to the constitution, [9] [10] with the remainder appointed by the Emir. [11]

On 29 July 2021, Al Thani approved the electoral law, which mandated the thirty members being elected from single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting. [12] The law requires candidates to be at least thirty years old and 'of Qatari origin' (as defined by the 2005 nationality law). [11] This limited voting to those descended from people who held citizenship in 1930, [13] barring people who had been naturalised and members of the Al Murrah tribe from contesting the election and leading to protests. [11]

Campaign

A total of 284 candidates contested the 30 seats, with 29 women running. [13] Political parties are banned and all candidates ran as independents. [14]

Preliminary results

No women were elected. [15] Voter turnout was 63.5%. [16] According to Human Rights Watch, thousands of Qataris were excluded from voting. [17]

ConstituencyElected member
1. Fereej Al Khulaifat Abdulrahman Yousef Abdelrahman Al Khulaifi
2. Fereej Al Hitmi Ahmed Hitmi Ahmed Al Hitmi
3. Fereej Al Salata Abdullah Ali Jumaa Al Sulaiti
4. Al Mirqab Issa Ahmed Issa Nasr Al Nasr
5. Old Al Ghanim Hassan bin Abdulla Al-Ghanim
6. Mushayrib Khalid Ghanim Nasser Al Ali Al Maadeed
7. Al Jasrah Khalid Ahmed Nasser Ahmed Al Obaidan
8. Al Bidda Nasser Salmin Khalid Al Suwaidi
9. Barahat Al Jufairi Hamad Abdullah Abdulrahman Ali Al Mulla
10. Dawhah al Jadidah Khalid Abbas Ali Kamal Al Emadi
11. Rawdat Al Khail Nasser Mohsin Mohammed Bukshaisha
12. Al Rumeilah Issa Arar Issa Ali Al Rumeihi
13. Fareej Al Najada Mohammed Yousef Abdulrahman Al Manaa
14. South Al Wakrah Mohammed Muftah Abdulrahman Al Muftah
15. North Al Wakrah Yousef Ali Yousef Al Khater
16. Al Sailiya Ali Futais Al Merri
17. Old Rayyan Mohammed Bati Salem Khalifa Al Abdullah
18. Al Kharaitiyat Ali Shbaib Nasser Al Attiyah
19. Al Daayen Nasser Metref Essa Al Metref Al Humaidi
20. Al Khor Thakhira Ahmad bin Hamad Al Muhannadi
21. Al Mashrab Mohammed Eid Saad Al Hassan Al Kaabi
22. Al Ghariyah Mubarak Mohammed Matar Al Matar Al Kuwari
23. Ar-Ruʼays Yousef Ahmed Ali Al Sada
24. Abu Dhalouf Mohammed Omar Ahmad Al Salem Al Mannai
25. Al Jumail Nasser Hassan Al Nfeihi Al Kubaisi
26. Al Kuwariya Nasser Mohammed Nasser Al Jufaili Al Nuaimi
27. Al Nasraniya and Al Khurayb Sultan Hassan Mubarak Al Dabet Al Dosari
28. Dukhan Mubarak Saif Hamdan Maasad Al Mansouri
29. Al Kharsaah, Ummahat Sawi and Al Owaina Ali Saeed Rashed Al Khayareen
30. Rawdat Rashed Salem Rashed Salem Rashed Al Muraikhi
Source: Doha News, Gulf Times

Related Research Articles

The political system of Qatar runs under an authoritarian semi-constitutional monarchy with the emir as head of state and chief executive, and the prime minister as the head of government. Under the Constitution of Qatar, the partially-elected Consultative Assembly has a limited ability to reject legislation and dismiss ministers. The second general election was held in 2021; political parties are banned and all candidates had to run as independents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani</span> Emir of Qatar from 1995 to 2013

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Hamad bin Abdullah bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani is a member of the ruling Al Thani Qatari royal family. He was the ruling Emir of Qatar from 1995 until 2013 when he abdicated the throne, handing power to his fourth son Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani who was born to his second spouse, Moza bint Nassir. The Qatari government refers to him as the Father Emir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emir of Qatar</span> Head of state of Qatar

The emir of the State of Qatar is the monarch and head of state of the country. The emir is also the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and guarantor of the Constitution. The emir holds the most powerful position in the country, and has a prominent role in foreign relations.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Abdullah bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani was the Emir of Qatar from 27 February 1972 until he was deposed by his son Hamad bin Khalifa in a coup on 27 June 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House of Thani</span> The ruling dynasty of Qatar

The House of Thani is the ruling family of Qatar, with origins tracing back to the Northern Arab Banu Tamim tribe. Today Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his mother Moza bint Nassir lead the house.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Consultative Assembly of Qatar</span> Legislative body of the State of Qatar

The Consultative Assembly is the legislative body of the State of Qatar, with 45 members. Following the 2021 Qatari general election, it has 30 elected and 15 appointed members. The body can only question the prime minister, who is appointed by the Emir of Qatar, on his policies if two-thirds of the members agree, which is unlikely given that one-third of the members are appointed by the Emir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani</span> Emir of Qatar since 2013

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is Emir of Qatar, reigning since 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani</span> Prime minister of Qatar (2007–2013)

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber bin Mohammed bin Thani Al Thani, who was also known informally by his initials HBJ, is a Qatari politician. He was the Prime Minister of Qatar from 3 April 2007 to 26 June 2013, and foreign minister from 11 January 1992 to 26 June 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greece–Qatar relations</span> Bilateral relations

Greece–Qatar relations are the bilateral relations between Greece and Qatar. Relations were established in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hessa Al Jaber</span> Qatari engineer and politician

Hessa bint Sultan Al Jaber is a Qatari engineer, academic and politician. She was the first Minister of Information and Communications Technology in Qatar following the formation of a new cabinet by the Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani in 2013. In 2017 she was one of four women appointed to the Consultative Assembly, becoming one of the country's first female parliamentarians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qatar–United Arab Emirates relations</span> Bilateral relations

Qatar and the United Arab Emirates share a naval border and are part of the Arabic-speaking Persian Gulf region. They are both members of the GCC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 1978)</span> Former heir apparent of Qatar

Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is the former heir apparent of Qatar. He is the third son of the former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and the first child of the Emir with his second wife, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned. He abdicated his position as Crown Prince in 2003, in favour of his younger brother Tamim, citing being uninterested in becoming Emir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qatar–Spain relations</span> Bilateral relations

The State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Spain formed diplomatic relations in December 1972. Qatar maintains an embassy in Madrid, while Spain has an embassy in Doha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani</span> Prime minister of Qatar (2020–2023)

Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani is a Qatari politician who has served as Prime Minister of Qatar from 28 January 2020 to 7 March 2023 and Minister of the Interior since 28 January 2020.

Aisha Bint Yousuf al-Mannai is a Qatari academic and politician. In 2017 she was one of four women appointed to the Consultative Assembly, becoming one of the country's first female parliamentarians.

Events in the year 2021 in Qatar.

Events in the year 2019 in Qatar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti</span> Qatari politician

Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti is a Qatari politician. She is the Deputy Speaker in Qatar's Shura Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jawaher bint Hamad Al Thani</span> Qatari sheikha and royal consort

Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani is a Qatari royal and the first wife and consort of Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar. A member of the Qatari royal family by birth, she is the daughter of former government minister Sheikh Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani and a grandniece of Emir Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani. She is a second cousin of her husband. As the first wife of the Emir, she accompanied him on an official state visit to Spain in 2022, where she was presented with the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic by King Felipe, and to the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in 2023.

References

  1. "Qatar sets Oct. 2 for first legislative elections". Reuters . 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  2. Emir: Qatar to hold first legislative elections in 2013 Archived 2014-08-31 at the Wayback Machine Doha News, 1 November 2011
  3. Advisory Council’s term extended until 2016 amid government transition Doha News, 2 July 2013
  4. 1 2 Legislative elections in Qatar postponed until at least 2019 Archived 2017-08-22 at the Wayback Machine Doha News, 17 June 2016
  5. "Qatar intends to hold its first elections for the Shura Council in 2021". Swissinfo (in Arabic). 3 November 2020. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  6. "Qatar emir hands power to son, no word on prime minister". Reuters. 2013-06-25.
  7. Postponing democracy: Qatar’s modernization attempts fail without inclusive political institutions Archived 2015-04-20 at the Wayback Machine An-Nahar, 18 December 2014
  8. Qatar takes step toward first Shura Council election: QNA agency Reuters, 31 October 2019
  9. "Qatar elections to be held in 2013 - Emir". BBC News. 2011-11-01. Archived from the original on 2012-01-06. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  10. Agarwal, Hina (2011-11-09). "Qatar to hold elections in 2013". Arabian Gazette. Archived from the original on 2012-05-22. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  11. 1 2 3 "Qatari Al-Murra tribe protests against the election law". The Levant News. 10 August 2021. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  12. "Qatar approves electoral law for first legislative polls". Reuters. 29 July 2021.
  13. 1 2 Qatari voters weigh in on first legislative elections Al Jazeera, 2 October 2021
  14. Qatar Freedom House
  15. Qatar’s first legislative elections see 63.5% voter turnout as women fail to break through Doha News, 3 October 2021
  16. Mills, Andrew; Barrington, Lisa (2021-10-02). "Qatar's first legislative elections see 63.5% voter turnout". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-10-02.
  17. Mills, Andrew; Barrington, Lisa (2021-10-03). "Qatar's first legislative elections see 63.5% voter turnout". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-11-07.