Omani Shura polls keenly followed
The Ministry of Interior has announced start of voter registrations for Majlis poll
MUSCAT: Preparations for the elections of members of Majlis Al Shura 9th Term are underway this year amidst the achievements of this Shura march in the country.
February 21 was the deadline for submitting nomination e-applications for the elections of Majlis Al Shura’s members who meet the requirements.
The Ministry of the Interior announced the start of registration in the electoral register for citizens who are entitled to vote.
The Shura march in the Sultanate has been marked by several stages of hard work, beginning with the second decade of the blessed Renaissance led by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, with the establishment of the State Consultative Council in 1981 and the establishment of Majlis Al Shura in 1991.
The elections of the members of Majlis Al Shura in the Sultanate have received the attention and follow-up of many regional and international analysts and observers as an important turning point in the history of Omani, Arab and regional democracy due to the significant changes witnessed by the parliamentary practice in the Sultanate since the beginnings of the blessed Renaissance, which followed a constant and insightful vision of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, which takes into account the state of progression from the consultation to Shura to the supervisory and legislative roles, as happened in the last two terms and the current one of the Majlis.
Continuous development
The Omani Shura march has witnessed successive and continuous developments over the past years. Its institutional system has been operating in two chambers: the appointed State Council and the elected Majlis Al Shura together under the umbrella of the Council of Oman, each enjoying legal personality and financial and administrative independence.
Article 9 of the Basic Law of the State defines the overall values and the basic elements of the system of governance in the Sultanate. It stipulates that the ruling is based on justice, consultation, equality and the right of citizens to participate in public affairs. Article 59 stipulates the principle of the rule of law.
Article 10 puts the basic principles guiding the policy of the Sultanate, including: Laying suitable foundations for consolidating the pillars of genuine Shura emanating from the heritage of the Nation, its values and Islamic Sharia, taking pride in its history and adopting the useful contemporary means and instruments, including establishing a sound administrative system that guarantees justice, tranquility and equality for the citizens and ensures respect for the public order and the preservation of the supreme interests of the State.
The Royal Decree No. 94/91 established Majlis Al Shura on November 12,1991, marks the beginning of the third decade of the blessed Renaissance, to continue and develop as stated in the speech of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said within the framework of the established principles that guide the policy of the Sultanate under the leadership of His Majesty, the most prominent in this field being laying suitable foundations for consolidating the pillars of genuine Shura emanating from the heritage of the Nation, its values and Islamic Sharia and taking pride in its history and adopting the useful contemporary means and instruments.