Wed Nov 06 17:41:24 UTC 2024: ## Qatar Scraps Legislative Elections in Referendum
**Doha, Qatar** – Qatar has ended its brief experiment with legislative elections, with voters overwhelmingly approving a referendum on Wednesday to revert to a system where the Emir appoints all members of the Shura Council, the country’s advisory body.
Over 90% of valid ballots cast by Qatari citizens voted in favor of the constitutional amendments, according to the Interior Ministry. The referendum saw a high turnout with 84% of eligible voters participating.
The decision marks a return to the traditional system where the Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, has complete control over the Shura Council. The council, while having limited powers, can propose legislation, approve the budget, and recall ministers, subject to the Emir’s veto.
The referendum effectively scrapped the 2021 elections for 30 of the 45 seats in the Shura Council, which had been the first and only time such elections were held in Qatar. The polls had been controversial, with critics arguing that the eligibility criteria, which limited participation to descendants of Qataris who were citizens in 1930, was discriminatory and fueled tribal divisions.
The referendum also introduced a new provision allowing all Qataris, including naturalized citizens, to hold ministerial office. Previously, this right was reserved for Qatari-born nationals.
In a statement, the Emir lauded the referendum as a celebration of “unity and justice.” The move to return to the traditional system is seen as a consolidation of power under the Emir and a step away from democratic reforms.
First Piper 