Qatar passes referendum, replaces Shura Council elections with appointments, interior minister says


  • World
  • Wednesday, 06 Nov 2024

FILE PHOTO: Members attend the session of the advisory Shura Council for which partial elections were held for the first time, in Doha, Qatar, October 26, 2021. REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari/File Photo

DOHA (Reuters) - Qatar's referendum on a set of constitutional amendments passed with a 90.6% approval of the valid votes, replacing legislative elections for the Shura Council with appointed roles, the Gulf Arab state's interior minister said early on Wednesday.

Qatar held its first ever elections in 2021 to choose two-thirds of the members of the advisory Shura Council. The elections sparked rare tribal tensions in Qatar after some members of a main Bedouin tribe found themselves ineligible to vote in the poll.

"Qataris celebrated today the fruits of what the forefathers planted ... by participating in the general referendum on the draft constitutional amendments to the country's permanent constitution," Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said on X following the results.

Qatar's first legislative election was approved in a 2003 constitutional referendum, but did not take place until 2021.

The Shura Council has legislative authority and approves general state policies and the budget, but has no say in the setting of defence, security, economic and investment policy for the small but wealthy gas producer, which bans political parties.

(Reporting by Enas Alashray and Adam Makary; Editing by Chris Reese and Lincoln Feast.)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In World

Storm Bert causes power outages, disrupts travel in UK and Ireland
At least 18 dead in retaliatory sectarian attacks in Pakistan
Modi's BJP, allies to win election rebound in India's richest state, Maharashtra
NATO boss Rutte held talks with Trump in Florida, alliance says
Turkey replaces pro-Kurdish mayors with state officials in two eastern cities
Cyprus says Moody's A3 upgrade vote of confidence in economy
Indonesia agrees to transfer remaining Bali Nine to Australia
Australian police arrest three at climate protest at coal port
Wealthy countries back raising COP29 climate deal to $300 billion, sources say
Philippine VP says she would have Marcos assassinated if she were killed

Others Also Read