Ministry Of State For Fnc Affairs Organises Brainstorming Session With Election Committees Of The Seven Emirates

The Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs (MFNCA) organised a remote brainstorming session with the Election Committees of the emirates to go over procedures, come out with recommendations for organising future elections in accordance with international standards, and work towards enhancing parliamentary processes to keep up with the UAE’s success across various sectors.

The workshop included a presentation on the Federal National Council Election Report 2019, followed by debates about the various stages of the electoral process, from readying the electoral colleges to forming the emirates’ Election Committees, in addition to candidate registration, candidate promotion campaigns, procedures on election day, and the appeals process. The discussion also explored means to enhance the role of the emirate committee in encouraging voters to vote and promoting participation in the electoral process.

His Excellency Dr Saeed Muhammad Al Ghufli, Assistant Undersecretary for Federal National Council (FNC) Affairs at the MFNCA, attended the session, along with H.E. Issa Saif Handhal Bani Tamim, Legal Counsellor at the Office of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairman of the Sharjah’s Election Committee; H.E. Rashid Abdul Rahman bin Jubran Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the Central Department of Human Resources in Ajman, Chairman of Ajman’s Election Committee; and Major General Muhammad Ahmed bin Ghanim Al Kaabi, Commander-in-Chief of Fujairah Police, Chairman of Fujairah’s Election Committee, in addition heads of department and employees from the Ministry, as well as 43 members and coordinators from the various emirates’ Election Committees.

MFNCA Undersecretary H.E. Tariq Hilal Lootah said: “The brainstorming workshop with the Election Committees of the various emirates reflects our commitment at the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs – in our capacity as the General Secretariat of the National Election Committee – to communicate with all strategic partners of the 2019 FNC Election to explore both positive and negative experiences during the electoral process. It allows us to brainstorm innovative ideas that improve future elections, reinforcing the UAE’s reputation and pioneering parliamentary experience around the world.”

The Election Committees in the emirates have always been – and will continue to be – essential for ensuring smooth and organised electoral processes, H.E. explained, adding, “The Committees play a pivotal role, acting as the bridge between the National Election Committee and citizens in every emirate of the UAE. Maintaining the UAE’s successful electoral track record is everyone’s responsibility, and that calls on us to work together towards enhancing parliamentary practices in the UAE, in line with the aspirations of our wise leadership.”

H.E. Lootah asserted that the workshop’s main objective is to come up with innovative ideas to enhance performance, which will be the leading concern in the period ahead, and to work towards implementing electoral processes that are in line with the UAE’s aspirations for global leadership in all sectors.

The workshop was marked by meaningful interaction from the Chairmen and members of the various committees, who underlined their commitment to actively participating in efforts to develop and improve this pioneering national experience. The discussions focused on the work that the Committees do during the election period.

Attendees also highlighted the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs’ openness to all innovative ideas, opinions, and proposals, which will serve as the foundation for all efforts to develop and enhance performance in future electoral cycles.