Bahrain's MPs yesterday (April 11) passed key constitutional amendments designed to give more power to the people with some tweaks, following three months of debate.

They approved 19 of 21 constitutional changes. They declined the amendment aimed at establishing minimum education requirements for potential MPs and another allowing the government to seek to fast-track 'urgent' legislation, meaning they are automatically dropped.

However, the Shura Council must now vote on the amendments and could seek to include those shelved by MPs, which could result in a joint vote during a combined session of the National Assembly.

Landmark

MPs voted on the proposals, submitted in January by His Majesty King Hamad, yesterday despite initially being given just two weeks to debate them.

Thirty MPs attended the session to take part in the voting following a plea by parliament chairman Khalifa Al Dhahrani, who needed 27 of parliament's 40 MPs to push ahead with a ballot.

Parliament's legislative and legal affairs committee chairman Ahmed Al Mulla described it as a landmark moment for the country.

'The amendments as suggested by the King are in line with the principles of the National Action Charter, but we in the committee had to make changes to make them better and live up to people's expectations,' Al Mulla said.

'We are fulfilling the King's will, in that the best amendments have to be passed - even if changes are made. It is a landmark day for the whole nation that constitutional amendments are being passed for the first time. When they are implemented, it will mean the National Assembly will have more powers - and so will the people,' he added.

Constitutional amendments approved include one granting parliament increased powers to take a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister.

It states the vote will be passed if it is backed by two- thirds of parliament.

MPs would be able to take the action alone, instead of having a joint vote with the appointed Shura Council - the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

Ten MPs would be able to ask the parliament chairman in writing seven days before a session to have it included on the agenda for a vote.

Vacancy

They also allow the National Assembly to reject a four-year government action plan presented by the Cabinet at the beginning of each legislative term, while making the parliament chairman also head of the National Assembly - taking over the role from the Shura Council chairman.

Other approved amendments include preventing MPs who resign from parliament from running again in the same four-year term unless parliament decides otherwise.

A by-election would be held within two months of the vacancy being announced. Council members would continue to be appointed by the King, but according to announced criteria.

Meanwhile, the consent of parliament, the council and Constitutional Court chairmen, besides that of the King and the Premier, will be required to dissolve parliament. Five MPs would be able to summon a minister for questioning on parliament's open floor unless parliament decides to do it behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, the government would be obliged to submit an annual budget to parliament rather than every two years. – TradeArabia News Service