*Elections will take place in accordance with the Constitution on which a referendum was held in 2003 and promulgated in 2004
The Shura Council elections will be held in October next year, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani announced Tuesday.
The Shura Council elections will be held in October next year, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani announced Tuesday.
He was speaking after inaugurating the 49th ordinary session of the Shura Council at the council's headquarters. HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa
| *Qatar's health system has proven its reliability in dealing with Covid-19 *Residents urged to comply with official guidelines to avoid a second wave *Low oil and gas prices have not been able to dent Qatar's development plans *Budget deficit during the first half of this year limited to QR1.5bn *Spending on health, education and infrastructure projects continues as planned |
bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, ministers and other excellencies were present.
“These elections will take place, God willing, in accordance with the Constitution on which a referendum was held in 2003 and promulgated in 2004. Thus, we are taking an important stride to strengthen the traditions of the Qatari Shura and developing the legislative process through a wider participation of citizens,” His Highness the Amir explained.
“We have our well-established system rooted in and intertwined with the structure of our community. It is not a multiparty system, but rather an Amirate system based on traditions of fair and rational governance which is connected with the people through the pledge of allegiance, loyal relations, mutual trust and direct communication between the system and community.
“Elections are not a criterion of national identity. This identity has crystallised over time and best manifested in the form of solidarity and cohesion of our community with its forbearing moral values and love for its country, as revealed in challenging the blockade.”
Referring to the Covid-19 scenario, His Highness the Amir reiterated his earlier statement that Qatar would not hesitate to take strict preventative measures in the event of a new pandemic outbreak.
“Our health system has proven its reliability in dealing with the pandemic, so our country, by the grace of Allah, has remained as one of the world’s least affected. The results of our health policies and persistent investment in developing the health system and medical staff, including prevention, daycare centers and hospitals have been evident.
“It must be underlined that the pandemic is still raging at its height in different parts of the world, and we are still facing it in Qatar, and it is necessary not to be complacent in order to avoid a second wave of pandemic, and to comply with the instructions, especially social distancing, wearing masks and adhering to home quarantine when necessary.”
His Highness the Amir observed that it has become obvious that a full lockdown only postpones the spread of the pandemic, and at the same time harms the economy.
“However, Qatar has opted for carefully considered partial and interim lockdowns while stressing precautionary measures and maximum readiness to isolate and treat those infected after the assessment of cases, in addition to the State's intervention in supporting the economic facilities affected by the pandemic. The accuracy of our resilient choice, which sacrifices neither people's health nor the economy, became clear,” he said.
With regard to the negative effects of low oil and gas prices on the general budget, His Highness the Amir said the State has also taken urgent and necessary measures to mitigate.
“The preliminary results showed that the budget deficit during the first half of this year reached only about QR1.5bn, although deficit projections were much higher. This was achieved due to the rationalisation of government spending associated with raising the efficiency of the public sector. Despite cuts, the budget continues to concentrate spending on health, education, and major infrastructure projects,” he added.
