Twenty candidates won seats at the third Federal National Council elections that took place across the emirates in October. These candidates have been cleared to take their seats at the FNC this week and the names of the other 20 appointed members are expected to be announced in the coming days.
The 2015 elections were hailed as a milestone in the development of the UAE. More citizens were given the right to vote, with the number of eligible voters rising by two thirds from the 2011 polls.
But even though the turnout has increased from the last election, it remains below what was expected and hoped for.
Only 35 per cent of the eligible electorate cast their vote. The highest turnout was in Umm Al Quwain, where 70.1 per cent – 2,882 out of 4,114 eligible voters – cast their ballots, while the lowest was in Dubai, where only only 22.1 per cent – 11,760 out of 53,066 eligible voters – did so.
This could be due to the UAE social-welfare system, as Ahmed Al Dhaheri, a member of the National Elections Commission told The National, which doesn't put citizens under economic, social or political pressures that would motivate them to be more involved in decision-making.
Another possible reason is that the FNC has no legislative powers. It’s an advisory body that is responsible under the constitution for examining, and, if it judges necessary, amending proposed federal legislation and offering recommendations on public matters.
The lack of awareness about the important role that the FNC plays could also have affected public opinion and prevented many people from having their say.
These factors present challenges for the Ministry of State for the Federal National Council to make the council more interesting and relevant to the public.
But the question now is how can the FNC overcome such challenges without introducing fundamental changes to its core functions?
One big obstacle facing the FNC’s development is the marginalisation of the country’s intellectuals and experts from the process of developing the council’s work.
During my recent discussions with those I know or follow on social media, I realised that many of them don’t really believe in the FNC’s potential and are not satisfied with the level of discussion taking place in the FNC chamber.
One way to engage more Emirati intellectuals and experts in the FNC’s work is to establish opportunities for them to participate in the discussion through temporary consultative committees. Those who volunteer should be accepted based on their expertise and knowledge about the given topic of debate.
The two groups can add much needed insight and knowledge to the consultative body. For example, when the FNC reviews a bill that affects social services, they could consult Emiratis who have knowledge and expertise in the field, including education, health care, food or energy subsidies, job creation and training, housing, pensions and community management.
The participation of academics could lead to innovative solutions by bringing a range of valuable external viewpoints and fresh perspectives to the table, ensuring policy decisions are based on the most up to date information. These are community leaders who have the power to influence their students and increase awareness about the FNC.
Experts, on the other hand, may bridge skills gaps in the FNC and make the council’s work more professional and focused.
This will have benefits even for those who volunteer to participate. They would be able to voice their opinions in public discussions related to their areas of expertise and influence the public consensus. In return, they will get media attention and valuable professional experience.
Through this the FNC would be able to create a much needed platform for dialogue and the exchange of ideas between legislators on the one hand and experts and academics on the other, by acting like a mediator.
This will also help promote open policymaking in the UAE, which will increase public awareness and strengthen the decision-making process in the country.
During the process, volunteers will be able to build a stronger link with the members of the FNC and, perhaps, would even think about running for FNC seats in the future.
However, volunteers should have the full support of their workplaces, which should facilitate their active participation in the FNC by giving them the time they need to attend the council’s committee meetings and, if required, attend the public sessions.
For it to have more relevance, the Federal National Council needs to appeal to these two groups of society and get their support.
aalmazrouei@thenational.ae
@AyeshaAlmazroui
