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Mud-slinging in elections to attract punitive steps

ABU DHABI — Mud-slinging between rival candidates will attract punitive measures in the run-up to the upcoming elections to the Federal National Council (FNC), in accordance with the penal code enforced in the country.

Stating this, Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for FNC Affairs and Head of the National Election Committee (NEC) said “As there is not yet a special law to streamline elections and stipulate penalties for violations, we will resort to the penal code enforced in the country in case of encroachments”.

He was addressing Pressmen in the capital following launch of the FNC election seminars.

The educational seminars which are being hosted jointly by the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) and the National Election Committee (NEC) started in Abu Dhabi yesterday and will be held in the other emirates. “This issue has been debated extendedly by the NEC. We have to start this experience first. The country aims to build a basic infrastructure for election. This requires further developments in the future including framing of an election law”, said Dr Gargash.

On the anticipated progress in the FNC after the elections, he reiterated that the government believed in gradual developments in the FNC that will envisage three phases so as to ensure successful outcome. “We target three major achievements. First is opting for elected members at the FNC instead of appointed members. The second important thing is the powers that will be given to the FNC. The role of the ministry to develop an effective channel between the FNC and the executive authority is also a big challenge we are facing”.

Responding to a question on the steps undertaken to control the cost set for election advertising campaigning, Dr Gargash replied, “We can not perfectly control the expenditure by candidates on election campaigns. However, what we want to emphasise here is that the government will not spare any effort in supporting candidates and will not accept donations from foreign parties. We want to create a mature political system”.

A sum of Dh2 million has been fixed for candidates for election advertising campaigns.

Commenting on the community awareness towards the election, the minister underlined that the UAE is alive to the election, adding, “the election has not turned into an obsession for the UAE society. However. there is a huge and increasing response from the people”.

The minister noted the proposed FNC election in the country has evoked a good reaction at the international level. “The election has been perceived by many as a qualitative leap for the political leadership of the country that will have its impact on the whole society”, said Dr Gargash.