Bahraini parliamentary election, 2002
Encyclopedia
The 2002 parliamentary elections in Bahrain
were the second parliamentary elections in the country's history, and the first legislative elections since the dissolution of the 1973 National Assembly (see: Bahraini parliamentary election, 1973
). The elections were the first to be held under the 2002 Constitution
.
The participation rate in the elections was reported by the Bahraini government to be 53.2% of registered voters. The elections were boycotted by Al Wefaq
, the country's largest political party, as well as the National Democratic Action Society, the Nationalist Democratic Rally Society
, and Islamic Action Society
. They claimed that the 2002 Constitution
gives too much power to the unelected legislators in the upper house
, known as the Consultative Council of Bahrain
, and demanded a reform of the constitution.
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
were the second parliamentary elections in the country's history, and the first legislative elections since the dissolution of the 1973 National Assembly (see: Bahraini parliamentary election, 1973
Bahraini parliamentary election, 1973
Parliamentary elections were held for the first time in Bahrain on 12 December 1973, under the Constitution of 1973. Thirty members were elected to the National Assembly of Bahrain, by a franchise restricted to male citizens. An additional 14 ministers of the royally-appointed government became...
). The elections were the first to be held under the 2002 Constitution
Constitution of Bahrain
Bahrain has had two constitutions in its modern history. The first one was promulgated in 1973, and the second one in 2002.-Constitution of 1973:* Full text of the 1973 constitution...
.
The participation rate in the elections was reported by the Bahraini government to be 53.2% of registered voters. The elections were boycotted by Al Wefaq
Al Wefaq
Al Wefaq National Islamic Society , also known as the Islamic National Accord Association, is a Bahraini political society, and the largest party in the Bahrain, both in terms of its membership and its results at the polls...
, the country's largest political party, as well as the National Democratic Action Society, the Nationalist Democratic Rally Society
Nationalist Democratic Rally Society
Nationalist Democratic Assembly , a political group attached to the Baghdad-based Ba'ath Party in Bahrain. The organization is led by Rasul al-Jishi....
, and Islamic Action Society
Islamic Action Society
The Islamic Action Society is one of the main Islamist political parties in Bahrain, and mainly appeals to Shīʻa followers of the Najaf-based Āyatu l-Lāh, Hādī al-Mudarrisī, who are known as "the Shirāzī faction"....
. They claimed that the 2002 Constitution
Constitution of Bahrain
Bahrain has had two constitutions in its modern history. The first one was promulgated in 1973, and the second one in 2002.-Constitution of 1973:* Full text of the 1973 constitution...
gives too much power to the unelected legislators in the upper house
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
, known as the Consultative Council of Bahrain
Consultative Council of Bahrain
The Consultative Council is the name given to the upper house of the National Assembly, the main legislative body of Bahrain....
, and demanded a reform of the constitution.
External links
- 2002 Bahrain election results - Adam Carr's Election Archive