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A referendum took place in Qatar on 5 November 2024 regarding the new revisions to the 2004 constitution. Some of the changes include strengthening the role of the emir and abolishment of the elections to the Consultative Assembly with its members being appointed instead. The referendum results will be legally binding. [1] [2] [3]
The first direct election for two-thirds of the Consultative Assembly took place in 2021. On 15 October 2024, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani announced plans for a referendum on whether to abolish direct elections to the Consultative Assembly and revert to an appointive system, saying that the election had affected relations within families and tribes and that it had assumed "an identity-based character that we are not equipped to handle, with potential complications over time that we would rather avoid". [4]
On 6 November, the Ministry of Interior announced that the referendum passed with 90.6% in favour. Turnout was at 84%. [5]
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 90.6 | ||
| Against | 9.4 | ||
| Total | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 84% | ||
Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said that the results of the referendum showed that "Qataris have celebrated ... the values of unity and justice". [5]
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 have to run as independents.
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.
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.
The House of Thani is the ruling family of Qatar, with origins tracing back to the Adnanite Banu Tamim tribe. Today Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his mother Moza bint Nassir lead the house.
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.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is Emir of Qatar, reigning since 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.
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.
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.
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. The elections for the Consultative Assembly were originally scheduled for the second half of 2013, but were postponed in June 2013 until at least 2016. In 2016 they were postponed again. Finally, in November 2020, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani pledged to hold the election in October 2021.
Abdullah bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is the Deputy Emir of the State of Qatar and unofficial heir presumptive to Emir of Qatar.
Sheikh Thani bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is the brother of the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and son of the country's Father Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Al Thani sits on the board of directors of the Doha Film Institute and International Bank of Qatar.
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.
Reem bint Mohammed al-Mansoori is a Qatari civil servant and politician. In 2017 she was one of four women appointed to the Consultative Assembly, becoming one of the country's first female parliamentarians.
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.
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.
Events in the year 2023 in Qatar.
Events in the year 2024 in Qatar.
