Qatar to Hold Referendum on Ending Legislative Elections

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

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.