The race for the FNC elections was limited to 479 candidates competing for 337,738 votes during the October 5 poll, after the National Elections Commission announced yesterday that 16 candidates had withdrawn from the electoral process. The number of male candidates who will continue the electoral process until the end of the election is 303, compared to 176 candidates.
While the National Election Commission announced yesterday the readiness of all 157 polling stations allocated for the voting operations inside and outside the country, including 39 inside and outside the country, and 118 dedicated to citizens voting abroad, the Secretary General of the Federal National Council, Ahmed bin Shabib Al-Dhaheri , That the electoral system in the state takes the personal presence of the voter, to ensure the highest degree of transparency and integrity, pointing out that the Council is a gradual system, and there are no by-elections or by-elections, but the reserve system of candidates.
In detail, 479 candidates in the FNC elections are competing for the votes of 337,738 citizens, who are members of registered electoral bodies for the 2019 elections, after the announcement of 16 candidates withdrew their candidacy for various reasons, according to the National Elections Commission, which closed the first evening Yesterday, the door for the withdrawal of candidates, according to the schedule of elections, which was revealed in early July.
With the closing of the door for the withdrawal of candidates, it is scheduled to continue the election race until the end of the fifth of next October, the day of the main election, 125 candidates in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, after the announcement of eight candidates to withdraw, vying for the votes of 101,549 citizens The Emirate of Dubai has 86 candidates after two candidates announced their withdrawal, competing for 60,772 electoral votes, in Sharjah, 109 candidates, after the withdrawal of five candidates, competing for 64,293 votes, and in Umm Al Quwain 19 candidates after the withdrawal of one candidate , Competing for 6653 electoral votes.
The candidates of the three emirates will compete in the elections until the end of their numbers in the final electoral lists, as there are no cases of withdrawal of candidates, where 26 candidates in the emirate of Ajman compete for 10,165 votes, and 61 candidates in Ras Al Khaimah compete for 55,289 votes Finally, 53 candidates in the emirate of Fujairah compete for 39,177 electoral votes.
According to post-withdrawal statistics, the lists of candidates for the FNC elections included 176 women in various emirates of the UAE, including 47 in Abu Dhabi (after the withdrawal of two female candidates), 35 in Dubai (after the withdrawal of two female candidates) and 39 in Sharjah. Of the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, 22 candidates, and in the Emirate of Ajman five candidates, and in Umm Al Quwain eight candidates, in addition to 20 candidates from the Emirate of Fujairah.
While the number of male candidates in the final lists reached 303 male candidates, after the withdrawal of 16 candidates at the level of the UAE, bringing the number of male candidates in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi 78 candidates (after the withdrawal of six candidates), 51 in the Emirate of Dubai, and 70 in the Emirate of Sharjah (after the withdrawal Five candidates), along with 39 candidates in Ras Al Khaimah, 21 in Ajman, 11 in Umm Al Quwain (after the withdrawal of one candidate), and finally 33 candidates in Fujairah.
The National Election Commission announced yesterday the readiness of the headquarters of the electoral centers inside and outside the country, to receive voters in the elections of the Federal National Council 2019, during the voting period announced in the schedule of elections for the Federal National Council.
According to the committee, the list of electoral centers approved for the Presidential Election Day, corresponding to the fifth of October next, 39 centers within the state, fully equipped to ensure the smooth running of the electoral process throughout the voting period on the election day President, while nine of them open during the period of early voting, in addition To 118 centers at the embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions of the State, with the aim of giving members of electoral bodies outside the country the opportunity to vote and play their part in participating in this national duty.
Tariq Hilal Lootah, Undersecretary of the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs and member of the National Election Commission, confirmed that the electoral centers were distributed as part of a plan to ensure that all members of the electoral bodies have access to and vote for their candidates. , Commensurate with the number of electoral bodies.
On the other hand, a seminar entitled «Federal National Council and its National Roles» was organized yesterday evening at the Abu Dhabi Headquarters, which focused on the provisions of the Federal National Council membership in the UAE and its strategic objectives and its supervisory and legislative role. For Council Membership 2019.
During the symposium, the Secretary General of the Federal National Council, Ahmed bin Shabib Al Dhaheri, spoke about the history of the Federal National Council, where he explained that the founding fathers chose an open economic state, based on non-alignment, and then approved the Constitution of the State, which achieved success over (47) years Which enabled the state to attract labor, business and investment.
He pointed out that the UAE Constitution created the Federal National Council system (40) members distributed to the seven emirates by consensus, and adopted the system of election and appointment, which he described as «good mix», to achieve balance and ensure the participation of all sectors, specialties and regions.
Al-Dhaheri then talked about the three main roles of the Council, saying: «The legislative role of the Council is based on looking at the constitutionality of draft laws presented and drafted and the usefulness of approval, and referred to the competent authority or ministry, and then submitted to the Supreme Council for approval», pointing out that the members of the Council (9) Committees to which draft laws and general topics are referred for discussion.
He added: «the oversight role of the Council is based on monitoring the budget and final accounts of the federal departments and ministries, and the legitimate accountability of ministers in writing, and receive complaints and presented to federal institutions», noting the role of the Council in parliamentary diplomatic relations abroad, through communication with state diplomats to raise state issues such as ( Terrorism) and the issue of occupied islands, foreign aid, space programs and global development goals.
Al-Dhaheri also touched on the roles assigned to the council's organs, the council's general secretariat, and the role and powers of the council's president, his deputies, the secretary general, assistants, observers and employees supporting the members. He also explained that the parliamentary division in the council is divided into six friendship committees. Its role is to raise state issues and solve international problems.
Al-Dhaheri stressed that a member of the Federal National Council does not have a special office to be close to the people of the community, and constantly informed of their issues, and contribute to solving them.
Al Dhaheri also pointed out that the electoral system in the UAE has taken into account the personal presence of the voter, to ensure the highest degree of transparency and integrity, pointing out that the Council is a gradual system, and there are no by-elections or by-elections, but the reserve system of candidates.
Dr. Saeed Bin Huwaimel Al Ameri, a member of the Board of Directors of the Association, said that the Federal National Council is one of the most important achievements of the UAE, which he founded and laid the foundations of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The state is witnessing the competitions to run for membership in the Federal National Council 2019, through the election campaigns of candidates, freely and transparently, away from tribalism, sectarianism and intolerance.
The parliamentary expert, Hamad Al-Suwaidi, spoke about the diversity in parliament, which he said gives him strength and enriches his work, stressing the need for the voter to choose the candidate who represents his interests, and look at the personal issues of the candidate, so that he chooses the person who is always available, and can reach him in any Time after his success and his accession to the membership of the Council, to communicate his voice and cause.