| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Al-Majlis Al-Watani / National Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Majlis Al-Nuwab / Council of Representatives |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Majlis Al-Shura / Shura Council
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) (from/to) | 23 October 2010
30 October 2010 |
| Timing and scope of renewal |
Elections were held for all the seats in the Council of Representatives on the normal expiry of the members' term of office. |
On 8 August 2010, King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa called elections to the Council of Representatives (lower chamber) for 23 October (see note). The country of just over 1.2 million inhabitants has been ruled since 1782 by the Al-Khalifa family. The 40-member Shura Council (upper chamber) is appointed by the King and has the power to override the decisions of the lower chamber. Although political parties are banned, "political societies" were legalized by an amendment in 2005 to the 1989 law prohibiting political parties.
In the previous elections (November 2006), the opposition Islamic National Accord Association (INAA, also known as Al Wefaq), led by the Shi'ite cleric Sheik Ali Salman, became the largest force in the Council of Representatives, taking 17 of the 40 seats. Pro-government groups - the Sunni National Islamic Tribune Association (Al Menbar, representing the Muslim Brotherhood) and its ally the Assala Association - took seven and five seats respectively. The remaining 11 seats went to independent candidates, 10 of whom subsequently aligned with the pro-government camp. One independent candidate, Ms. Latifah Al-Qoud, was elected unopposed, becoming the sole woman in the Council of Representatives.
Shia Muslims account for the majority of the population and have been pushing for a stronger political voice. In August 2010, Shias led street protests against what they termed their "second-class" status, complaining of discrimination in housing, health care and access to government jobs, and calling for reform of the electoral boundaries.
In September, 250 people were detained for planning to overthrow the government. 23 Shia activists who faced trial on security-related charges were subsequently released in February 2011 by order of the King.
In all, 142 candidates, including nine women - down from 17 in 2006 - were vying for seats in the Council of Representatives.
The INAA remained the largest political force in 2010. It promised to work for equality and a genuine multiparty democracy, arguing that parliament, instead of the King, should appoint ministers. Amal - the second-largest and more radical Shia movement - urged voters to boycott the elections, arguing that parliament was a sham.
Pro-government political societies - the Assala Association and Al Menbar - pledged to uphold the monarchy. The former promised to defend Bahraini tradition and oppose women's representation in Parliament. The latter voiced no objection to women members of parliament.
On 23 October, 67 per cent of nearly 320,000 registered voters turned out, down from 72 per cent in 2006.
In all, 31 candidates secured the required majority in the first round of voting, including five who were elected unopposed and one woman. The INAA took 18 of the 31 seats and the Assala Association took two. Eleven independent candidates were also elected.
The INAA claimed that at least 890 voters were turned away from polling stations in Shi'ite-dominated areas because their names were not on the electoral lists. The Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Khaled bin Ali Al-Khalifa, stated that the voting had been "transparent and fair" and promised to investigate any irregularities.
About 67 per cent of registered voters turned out at the second round on 30 October. In the nine run-off elections, Al Menbar and the Assala Association took two and one seat respectively and the other six seats were won by independents.
Overall, the share of the INAA remained at 18 seats since none of its candidates were present in the second round. As before, only one woman member was elected to the new Council of Representatives.
On 14 December, King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa inaugurated the newly elected Council of Representatives, which re-elected Mr. Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Dhahrani as its Speaker.
A royal decree issued on 24 November appointed 40 members to the Shura Council, including 11 women. Mr. Ali Bin Saleh Al-Saleh was re-appointed as Speaker.
Note:
Article 58 of the Constitution stipulates that general elections to the Council of Representatives are to be held during the last four months of the Council's term. The 2010 elections are not considered early elections. (Constitution, February 2002: http://www.bahrain-embassy.or.jp/en/constitution.pdf |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 23 October 2010 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
318'668
67%
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Round no 2 | 30 October 2010 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
171'000
67%
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% of votes |
|
|
| Islamic National Accord Association (INAA, Al Wefaq) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Assala Association |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| National Islamic Tribune Association (Al Menbar) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round no 2
|
| Political group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% of votes |
|
|
| Independents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| National Islamic Tribune Association (Al Menbar) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Assala Association |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Islamic National Accord Association (INAA, Al Wefaq) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total of seats
|
Grand total |
|
|
|
| Islamic National Accord Association (INAA, Al Wefaq) |
18
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents |
11
|
|
|
|
|
| Assala Association |
2
|
|
|
|
|
| National Islamic Tribune Association (Al Menbar) |
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round no 2
|
| Political Group |
Total of seats
|
Grand total |
|
|
|
| Independents |
6
|
17 |
|
|
|
| National Islamic Tribune Association (Al Menbar) |
2
|
2 |
|
|
|
| Assala Association |
1
|
3 |
|
|
|
| Islamic National Accord Association (INAA, Al Wefaq) |
0
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
39
1
2.50%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
31 to 40 years
41 to 50 years
51 to 60 years
61 to 70 years
|
3
20
14
3
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
Civil service and local authority administration
Finance, management or business
Architect, surveyor, engineer
Others
Education profession
IT/technology
Clerical, secretarial, administration
Journalism, broadcasting, media
Legal profession
Economist
Armed services/Police
Social worker
Research/sciences
Trade union official
Civil society activity
|
7
6
5
4
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
|
| Comments |
Source: Council of Representatives (02.11.2010, 27.04.2011, 05.10.2011)
Note on the number of women:
One woman was elected unopposed in the October 2010 general elections. In the by-elections held in September and October 2011, one woman was elected unopposed. Two other women won the run-off elections, becoming the first two women in Bahrain to win constituency seats. As at 5 October 2011, there were four women in all. |
