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Daily Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain's Parliament Wins 2025 Digital Content Award for Innovation and Inclusion
The Council of Representatives (Parliament) of Bahrain has been awarded the prestigious Bahrain Digital Content Award (BDCA) 2025 in the category of Inclusion and Empowerment, in recognition of its innovative 'MP Portal' project. The award highlights Parliament's exceptional contribution to digital innovation and its growing role in supporting Bahrain's digital transformation journey. The MP Portal, a platform designed to enhance communication and transparency between MPs and the public, was praised for its impact in driving inclusive digital services and supporting parliamentary work. The award ceremony took place this morning at the Gulf Hotel under the patronage of the Chairman of the Shura Council. Dr. Saqr Al-Shirawi, Assistant Secretary-General for Resources and Services, received the award on behalf of Parliament. The event gathered top national leaders and experts in innovation and digital transformation. BTECH, the Bahrain Technology Companies Society and organizer of the BDCA, stated that the award reflects the quality and real impact of the MP Portal in promoting digital empowerment, aligning with Bahrain's vision of comprehensive digital transformation. This recognition is seen as a result of the forward-looking leadership of Parliament Speaker Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, whose support for cutting-edge digital initiatives has strengthened the performance and transparency of the parliamentary system. It also celebrates the efforts of Eng. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Sisi Al Buainain, Secretary-General of Parliament, who has led the development of smart, tech-driven solutions to enhance institutional readiness and work environments. Winning this national award reaffirms Bahrain's Parliament as a leading model in using modern technology to strengthen democratic processes and promote digital empowerment — a step that places Bahrain at the forefront of regional and international digital progress.
Daily Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Bahraini Parliament Speaker Highlights Strong Ties with U.S. During Meeting with Ambassador
Speaker of Bahrain's Council of Representatives, Ahmed bin Salman Al-Musallam, reaffirmed the strength of the longstanding friendship and growing strategic partnership between Bahrain and the United States. During a meeting with U.S. Ambassador Steven C. Bondy at the Council's headquarters, Al-Musallam emphasized the two nations' shared commitment to enhancing bilateral parliamentary cooperation that supports mutual goals and benefits the people of both countries. The meeting was also attended by First Deputy Speaker Abdulnabi Salman Ahmed. Al-Musallam praised Ambassador Bondy's efforts in strengthening Bahrain-U.S. relations across various sectors and wished him continued success in his future diplomatic endeavors. For his part, Ambassador Bondy expressed appreciation for Bahrain's ongoing progress and the active role of its parliament. He reiterated the United States' commitment to further expanding areas of cooperation, aiming to fulfill the shared aspirations of both nations. Bondy also extended his best wishes for Bahrain's continued development and prosperity.
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraqi MPs reject Khor Abdullah deal
Shafaq News – Baghdad/Kuwait Over 100 Iraqi lawmakers have signed a petition rejecting the maritime agreement with Kuwait over Khor Abdullah, denouncing it as 'humiliating. During a press conference at the Council of Representatives on Saturday, MP Amer Abduljabbar urged Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to enforce the Federal Supreme Court ruling issued on September 4, 2023, which annulled the 2013 ratification law on constitutional grounds. Lawmakers also called for the verdict to be formally registered with the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization. In addition to enforcing the court decision, the petition called for fresh negotiations with Kuwait led by a team of maritime experts free from political influence. Abduljabbar said the talks should take place in Baghdad or a neutral third country, aligned with international norms. The Supreme Court had invalidated the agreement for violating Article 61/4 of the Iraqi Constitution, which requires a two-thirds parliamentary majority to approve international treaties. Both President Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister al-Sudani later submitted separate appeals asking the court to reconsider its decision and restore the agreement. Signed in 2013, the Khor Abdullah agreement aimed to regulate maritime navigation between Iraq and Kuwait in the northern Gulf. Its annulment in 2023 sparked widespread political backlash, including resignations within Iraq's judiciary and renewed calls from Parliament to renegotiate the terms.
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
New bloc in Iraq's Parliament: Reconstruction and Development begins work
Shafaq News – Baghdad Newly-formed parliamentary bloc Reconstruction and Development has begun legislative work, MP Firas al-Maslamawi announced on Saturday. Speaking at a press conference inside the Council of Representatives, al-Maslamawi described the bloc as 'a national project to rebuild the Iraqi state and establish a mature political order,' grounded in stability, fair distribution of wealth, and responsive governance. Formed on May 20 by fifty lawmakers, the bloc's legislative priorities include economic reform bills, development support across provinces, and revitalization of Iraq's industrial and agricultural sectors. Members also pledged to strengthen parliamentary oversight, fight corruption, and restore public trust in state institutions. "Reconstruction is not a slogan but a process of restoring institutional authority and passing legislation that meets the needs of Iraq's diverse population," al-Maslamawi stressed.
Shafaq News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's 2025 Elections: Mass candidacy, minimal reform, and crisis of democracy
Shafaq News Iraq's upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for November 11, 2025, are shaping up to be a pivotal yet deeply problematic juncture for the country's democratic trajectory. With a record-breaking 7,900 candidates vying for 329 seats in the Council of Representatives, the surface impression is one of vigorous democratic engagement. Yet beneath the numbers lies a troubling portrait of structural dysfunction, eroded public trust, and the risk of intensifying political gridlock. A Numbers Game Without Vision The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) attributes the candidate surge to Iraq's proportional representation system and its application of the Sainte-Laguë method, designed to promote electoral fairness. However, political alliances have exploited this formula by fielding double or even triple the number of candidates per seat—a legally permissible strategy that has turned the election into what Analyst Abbas al-Jubouri calls 'political noise, not a contest of leadership.' This numerical inflation reflects a broader problem: the proliferation of parties and coalitions with little ideological coherence or policy clarity. Iraq now hosts over 400 registered political parties and around 140 electoral alliances, many lacking any substantive vision. Rather than signaling political diversity, the massive candidacy count appears driven by a scramble for influence, state resources, and parliamentary immunity. Legal Vacuum Behind Electoral Chaos A core structural weakness enabling this dysfunction is the absence of a comprehensive party regulation law. In the current vacuum, political parties are not legally required to disclose their sources of funding, membership structures, or internal governance. This opacity, according to political Commentator Abdullah al-Kanani, allows ruling elites to preserve their influence by constantly rebranding themselves under new banners. Campaign financing further compounds the problem. Al-Kanani warns that spending on this election may surpass 2 trillion Iraqi dinars (approximately $1.5 billion), a figure fueled in part by illicit funds and unregulated donor networks. The landscape was further destabilized by the announced boycott of Iraq's largest Shia political movement, led by cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. His group's withdrawal casts a shadow over the elections, likely depressing voter turnout and deepening sectarian fragmentation in an already fragile political order. Parliament's Record of Failure The credibility crisis extends beyond the electoral system to the performance of the outgoing parliament. Lawmakers failed to pass more than 150 draft bills and were frequently absent from key sessions. Political Researcher Ali al-Nasser bluntly summarizes the legislature's legacy, 'It collapsed in performance long before it dissolved.' Al-Nasser warns that this election risks becoming a cynical numbers game, where inflated candidacies serve to project the illusion of democratic engagement. He cites one electoral alliance that has fielded 470 candidates nationwide, interpreting this not as political inclusion but a deliberate attempt to 'game the system.' This perception is widely shared among Iraqi voters, many of whom see little hope that new faces will bring new results. The lack of accountability, coupled with the enduring dominance of elite-controlled blocs, continues to alienate citizens and depress faith in electoral institutions. The Return of a Flawed Framework After the 2019 protest movement, Iraq introduced localized voting districts to facilitate the emergence of independent candidates and curb bloc dominance. Those gains have now been partially reversed. According to IHEC spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai, the 2025 elections will be conducted under the amended Law No. 12 of 2018—a system critics argue favors established powers. 'This framework was not designed for new voices,' says al-Jubouri. 'It's designed to protect old powers in new disguises.' The regression in electoral design, combined with the persistent absence of institutional reform, underscores the limits of Iraq's democratic evolution. Despite six rounds of electoral law changes since 2003, the political system remains captive to entrenched interests. Ritual Without Remedy Iraq's 2025 elections arrive at a moment of deep economic distress, regional instability, and domestic political fatigue. For many observers, they offer a costly repetition of entrenched failures. Al-Kanani encapsulates the prevailing sentiment, 'This is not democratic momentum—it's democratic exhaustion.' With just four months to go, the stakes are not limited to who wins or loses. The deeper question is whether Iraqis still believe that elections can meaningfully shape their country's future. In the absence of a structural overhaul, Iraq's elections may increasingly resemble a ritual—carefully choreographed but devoid of remedy.
