Gargash says 2015 election will be a big boost to the parliamentary system

Abu Dhabi – The number of voters for the forthcoming Federal National Council (FNC) election for the four-year term will be increased.

Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Minister of FNC Affairs, told the council on Tuesday that both the number of voters (those who are eligible to vote) and turnout (the number of people who actually come and vote) will go up with the expansion of electoral bank.

The session on Tuesday chaired by Speaker Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr was also attended by Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Youth, Culture and Community Development.

“This year we will see a bigger turnout for the FNC election as compared to previous elections for the 40-member house,” said Dr Gargash during a discussion on the election system of the country.

He told the house, there was a huge drop in voters’ turnout in 2011, which was only 28 per cent, compared to 74.4 per cent in 2006 election. “This year we expect to see a big turnout. We are also planning to increase the number of voters,” Dr Gargash, who is also the Chairman of National Election Committee, told the house.

The minister said the 2015 election for FNC will be a big boost to the parliamentarian election system in the region with larger participation of people. “Hopefully, each and every Emirati will take part in the 2015 election,” he said.

Dr Gargash said the FNC Affairs Ministry will also launch a campaign to bring more people on board to participate in the 2015 election. “FNC has been a great forum for public-to-government interaction. The UAE’s decision to bring the general people in government decision-making has helped the nation take great strides in policy-making. Therefore with the increasing of number of Emirati voters, we will make further strides in democracy,” Dr Gargash told the Council.

The minister urged for stronger interaction with journalists to spread the word of UAE’s democratic approach instead of just relying on Press releases and statements.

The issue on the electoral system in the house was raised by member Ahmed Al Mansouri, who asked the minister to explain the awareness of the Council about electoral role of people in the country.

nissar@khaleejtimes.com