Nominees attribute government projects to their personal achievements

The Federal National Council elections 2019 represent a new practical step in the process of enhancing political participation that highlights the role of the active citizen in the decision-making process, as a key pillar in the progress of the UAE in all fields.

The elections demonstrate the level of awareness among citizens of the pivotal and vital role played by the Council in meeting the aspirations and needs of society, and contribute to the advancement of all sectors, as well as the high national sense of those wishing to stand for national responsibility, and to represent the people of the UAE in the Federal National Council.

The elections confirm the UAE leadership's keenness to promote a culture of political participation among members of society, and to establish an electoral culture based on the need to elect and select candidates who express the concerns and issues of citizens.

The success of the electoral process is a shared responsibility, which requires the concerted efforts of all, in addition to the interaction of society in all its categories and institutions.

The participation of members of the electoral bodies in the electoral process, whether by running for membership of the Council or electing their representatives under its dome, is a national responsibility for the success of the process of empowerment through which the UAE seeks to enable the citizen to contribute effectively in building the future it aspires, thereby enhancing its leading position globally. .

Candidates for the Federal National Council elections attributed the completion of a number of projects, entities and government initiatives (federal and local) to their personal and functional efforts, as some of them included housing projects and public gardens, established by state agencies, for their personal achievements in their propaganda campaigns, in the hope of attracting the votes of citizens members of electoral bodies. Others have embraced the creation and establishment of service entities that already exist and have been operating for years.

This propaganda aroused the dissatisfaction of a large number of followers and influencers of social media platforms citizens, while the National Elections Commission stressed that the exploitation of the powers of jobs or employers in the election campaign is a violation requires administrative punishment.

In detail, candidates for the FNC 2019 elections continued their propaganda campaigns on all media and media planned and approved by the National Elections Commission, with the aim of introducing citizens to their election programs, in the hope of attracting voters.

At the end of the second week of campaigning, candidates holding administrative positions in local and federal government agencies and institutions listed and presented a number of projects and initiatives by local and federal governments on their social media platforms as their personal achievements.

The Emirates Today monitored a candidate's achievements as an official in one of the municipal departments in overseeing the establishment of a number of public parks in the emirate and equipping them at the highest levels, while attributing the last achievement of a giant housing project in the emirate of the emirate to his personal and career efforts, while A third candidate put the project of developing some hospitals and providing them with the latest medical and therapeutic equipment in his electoral program.

The monitoring included the inclusion of proposals and visions in other electoral programs by a number of candidates to establish projects and launch service institutions and government decisions, which they considered will meet the needs and demands of citizens, without knowing that the projects and entities they proposed, have already existed, some of them for years.

On the other hand, citizens of followers and influencers on social media platforms, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the fact that some candidates of the Federal National Council elections excessive talk about their practical and functional achievements, stressing that this kind of propaganda, which they described as «narcissism» may be counterproductive, Especially that the lesson in the efforts to come and not the past.

They opened a lengthy discussion on the most appropriate means of propaganda, which they summarized in the candidate does not over-talk about his educational qualifications, as well as his roles and career achievements, in addition to not excessive promises and promises to voters, stressing that the citizen has become more aware of the role, responsibilities and duties of a member of the Federal National Council.

In turn, the National Elections Commission considered the use of any of its candidates for its powers, or the exploitation of public bodies and institutions and their work in electoral propaganda, is an electoral violation that requires administrative punishment, while stressing the right of each candidate to express himself, and any activity aimed at persuading voters to choose him , And propaganda for his electoral program in full freedom, in accordance with the rules stipulated in the executive instructions for the elections of the Federal National Council.

The Committee stated that it sought to achieve full equality among all candidates by requiring the candidate who works as a public official or official in federal and local authorities to obtain an official license from the employer, not less than 32 days, starting from the date of the announcement of the final list of candidates until today. He pointed out the possibility of this leave to be without salary, in case the balance of the leaves of the applicant is not enough.

The committee attributed the requirement of public official wishing to stand for election to the Federal National Council, on official leave from his employer, during the election campaign period, to ensure that the candidate does not use his employer in the election campaign.

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Controls and rules

The National Election Commission noted that each candidate has the right to express himself, to undertake any activity aimed at convincing voters to choose him, and to publicize his electoral program in full freedom, provided that he adheres to a number of rules and regulations, which include preserving the values ​​of society, and abiding by the regulations, rules and decisions in force in this regard. And respect for public order, and not to include in the election campaign ideas calling for provoking religious, sectarian, tribal or ethnic intolerance towards others, and not to deceive or fraudulent voters by any means, in addition to not offending or defamation or infringement or abuse of others. Candidates, and finally, not to include his campaign promises or programs beyond the powers of a member of the Board.

Exploiting the powers of jobs in electoral propaganda is a violation.

The citizen became more aware of the role, responsibilities and duties of a FNC member.