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Just the beginning of democracy: Mohammed

DUBAI — The current elections to the UAE Federal National Council (FNC) are just the beginning of the democratic process in the UAE, said His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

“We do not want to push it too fast, too soon. We wish to introduce and expand it gradually,” he said. In a statement made at the Dubai polling station yesterday, Shaikh Mohammed said he was happy to see a large turnout of voters in the emirate.

“This is simply an indication of the people’s involvement and enthusiasm in joining the government’s initiative in ushering in a new form of political system in the UAE, which will be adopted gradually.”

Shaikh Mohammed also urged the need for a greater participation of women in the government. “A society without women lacks soul,” he said, while speaking to the media after touring the voting centre at International Convention Centre.

“We should extend all our support to women candidates who are qualified professionals and possess leadership skills in order to help them become active members of FNC and important decision makers in the UAE government.”

Personally expressing support to the women candidates, he said he hoped they would emerge winners in Dubai.

Shaikh Mohammed noted that the UAE women were qualified and already held leadership positions.

“Encouraging them to become part of the FNC is among the several steps in equipping women with power, and importantly, their rights in the society,” he said.

Shaikh Mohammed toured the polling station and talked to both candidates and voters, urging them to observe transparency in exercising their election rights. He was accompanied by Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for FNC Affairs, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Major-General Saif Al Shaafar, Under-Secretary of Interior Ministry and Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Director of Dubai Protocol Department.