Bahrain's King approved parliamentary reforms on Thursday after the completion of the National Dialogue, granting more powers of scrutiny for the elected lower house.

"We have ordered the executive and legislative authorities to take the necessary measures to approve the agreements," His Majesty King Hamad said in a speech shown on state television.

He also ordered a pay rise for civilian and military government employees.
 
He was speaking in the presence of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander, and National Dialogue participants led by parliament and Dialogue chairman Khalifa Al Dhahrani, who submitted to him the talks' final visions.

Al Dhahrani said: "Out of our national responsibility towards Bahrain, its people and future, and in line with Your Majesty's noble initiative to launch a National Consensus Dialogue without preconditions, we have worked with good intentions and dedication and with the support of your loyal people, have overcome all challenges and obstacles.

"Our goal has been to achieve national consensus for the sake of reaching common grounds in order to meet the Bahraini people's expectations of peace and justice," he said.

"We submit to Your Majesty this report on the agreed upon visions on the four themes of the National Consensus Dialogue (political, economic, legal and social) and the special theme regarding communities of residents related to comprehensive national issues and another dedicated to expatriate communities, in tribute to their contributions in the kingdom's comprehensive development march. We have encouraged participation at the dialogue table through openness to all view points voiced by all social spectra."

Meanwhile, a summary of the National Dialogue's proposals sent to Reuters said the delegates "did not agree on whether the Shura Council (upper house) should be granted the same powers as the parliament, and whether the responsibility for lawmaking and oversight should be restricted to the elected chamber".

"Delegates did not reach consensus on a number of further suggestions, such as limiting the term for ministers and head of government or a fixed quota for women in parliament," it said.

The appointed upper house has just as many seats as the elected lower house and dominates the legislative process.

"Participants recognised the importance of resolving the issues surrounding redundancies during the recent unrest," the summary said.

"They recommended looking at international best practices in finding solutions to overcome sectarian divides and support the healing process after the recent crisis."     

The summary said the prime minister, appointed by the King, would have to secure the approval of parliament for members of his government. "If MPs disapprove they can vote to reject the entire government. Parliament will also have the power to reject the government's four-year work plan," it said.

"These reforms guarantee that the government's composition and work plan will reflect the will of the people."    

It also said cabinet ministers would have to attend some parliament sessions and face questioning in the open chamber rather than within the framework of committees.

"Overall, these decisions reinforce the parliament's powers of scrutiny over the activities of the government," it said.

There was no agreement on allowing opposition groups to call themselves political parties. -TradeArabia News Service and Reuters