FNC accuses Cabinet of ‘constitutional violation’

The speaker and members of the Federal National Council expressed their discontent over a 'violation' committed by the Cabinet when it issued a law without passing it through the council.

Noura Al Kaabi resigned as an FNC member to take up her position as a Minister of State. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

ABU DHABI // The Speaker and members of the FNC have expressed their discontent over a breach by the Cabinet when it issued a law without passing it through the council.

A draft law to approve an additional Dh1.7 billion to last year’s federal budget was issued by the Cabinet on January 27 this year.

While it was presented to the FNC for revision during the previous term, it was later withdrawn on the grounds it would be brought back to the council for further revision. But, to the FNC’s surprise, the law was issued. “This is a first-timer and a constitutional violation,” said member Abdulazeez Al Zaabi.

The new Minister of State for the FNC, Noura Al Kaabi, said the issue had been addressed to the Cabinet, which responded that it needed to issue the law while the FNC was on break.

“The law has been issued as per article 4 of the constitution, which allows the issuing of a law during the absence of the council,” the Cabinet’s general secretariat said.

Veteran member Ali Jassim said it was not the first time this had happened. “In the history of the council, a number of laws have been issued in the absence of the council, so this measure unfortunately occurs from time to time under excuses.”

Member Hamad Al Rahoomi said: “We do not mind if some laws are issued without the council, but we need to inform the Cabinet that we are not happy with this. And our message that this violation should reach a high status, not someone of low status, so this does not happen again.”

FNC Speaker Dr Amal Al Qubaisi said the council was “not absent”. The previous term ended on November 14 and the new one started on November 17. “The transition period only took two days,” Dr Al Qubaisi said.

She said the FNC had been very cooperative with urgent requests to revise laws and this case would not have been any different. “We inquired about this draft law during our first session, and the response was ‘We will return it to you for passing’. Nothing similar has occurred previously, therefore we will request a comprehensive explanation from the Cabinet.”

At the start of the session, Ms Al Kaabi presented her resignation as an FNC member, to take up her position as Minister of State.

While FNC resignations are usually presented to the members after a month has passed, Dr Al Qubaisi said the need for Ms Al Kaabi to take up her position made it more urgent.

“To us Noura is irreplaceable, but on the bright side she will be moving from seat to another in the council,” she said.

“No worries, I will sit sometimes here and sometimes there [on the members’ seat],” Ms Al Kaabi joked.