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Qatar to Hold Referendum on Ending Legislative Elections

The proposed constitutional amendment follows tribal tensions and questions the role of elected Shura Council members.

Overview

  • Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani announced a referendum to decide on discontinuing legislative elections for the Shura Council.
  • The 2021 elections, the first of their kind in Qatar, led to tribal tensions and protests over electoral law exclusions.
  • The Shura Council can draft laws and approve budgets but lacks authority over defense, security, and economic policies.
  • The referendum aims to address concerns about identity-based competition and its impact on Qatari social norms and traditions.
  • Qatar's move reflects a broader regional trend of rolling back democratic experiments in Gulf states post-Arab Spring.