Bahrain sees big voter turnout in national elections
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The country’s most organised opposition group, Al Wefaq, and other opposition organisations urged supporters to stay away from the polls.
Voters in Bahrain turned out in huge numbers to cast ballots on Saturday in the island kingdom’s first full parliamentary election since Arab Spring-inspired protests nearly four years ago, but a boycott by the country’s opposition overshadowed the vote.
The country’s most organised opposition group, Al Wefaq, and other opposition organisations urged supporters to stay away from the polls. They accuse the government of failing to enact political reforms and address other grievances that were at the heart of the February 2011 protests.
Despite the boycott, polling stations were busy in the Riffa district south of Manama.
A total of 419 candidates are running for municipal and parliamentary seats. Any candidates who do not secure more than 50 per cent of the vote will head to a runoff a week later. The elections will determine the make-up of the 40-seat lower house of parliament, which has limited direct powers but carries important symbolism as part of political reforms begun more than a decade ago. Members of the upper house are appointed by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
“In some areas the roads were blocked by the opposition to prevent people from voting but the police dealt with the matter and opened the roads,” said executive director of the elections Abdulla bin Hassan Al Buainain. He said voter turnout was high.
A polling centre in Riffa, a primarily Sunni community south of the capital that is home to many supporters of the government, was visibly busier during a visit by journalists. Badriya Malallah, a retired civil servant, said she considered voting to be a national duty.
“We have to vote to protect Bahrain from foreign interference,” she said.
Many voters in areas dominated by the opposition, who have long complained of discrimination, said they were heeding calls to boycott.
In the opposition village of Sanabis to the west of Manama, rocks were scattered in the street in an attempt to block traffic and prevent voters from reaching polling stations.
Al Wefaq won 18 out of 40 parliamentary seats in a 2010 election, but it pulled out of parliament a year later during a crackdown against opposition protesters.
Several candidates have faced intimidation, including some whose cars and campaign facilities were torched before the vote.
Major General Tariq Al Hassan, the public security chief, said authorities boosted security across the country to safeguard the elections.
He said police “took appropriate measures” to address complaints of voter intimidation and arrested seven people.
Voters in Bahrain turned out in huge numbers to cast ballots on Saturday in the island kingdom’s first full parliamentary election since Arab Spring-inspired protests nearly four years ago, but a boycott by the country’s opposition overshadowed the vote.
The country’s most organised opposition group, Al Wefaq, and other opposition organisations urged supporters to stay away from the polls. They accuse the government of failing to enact political reforms and address other grievances that were at the heart of the February 2011 protests.
Despite the boycott, polling stations were busy in the Riffa district south of Manama.
A total of 419 candidates are running for municipal and parliamentary seats. Any candidates who do not secure more than 50 per cent of the vote will head to a runoff a week later. The elections will determine the make-up of the 40-seat lower house of parliament, which has limited direct powers but carries important symbolism as part of political reforms begun more than a decade ago. Members of the upper house are appointed by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
“In some areas the roads were blocked by the opposition to prevent people from voting but the police dealt with the matter and opened the roads,” said executive director of the elections Abdulla bin Hassan Al Buainain. He said voter turnout was high.
A polling centre in Riffa, a primarily Sunni community south of the capital that is home to many supporters of the government, was visibly busier during a visit by journalists. Badriya Malallah, a retired civil servant, said she considered voting to be a national duty.
“We have to vote to protect Bahrain from foreign interference,” she said.
Many voters in areas dominated by the opposition, who have long complained of discrimination, said they were heeding calls to boycott.
In the opposition village of Sanabis to the west of Manama, rocks were scattered in the street in an attempt to block traffic and prevent voters from reaching polling stations.
Al Wefaq won 18 out of 40 parliamentary seats in a 2010 election, but it pulled out of parliament a year later during a crackdown against opposition protesters.
Several candidates have faced intimidation, including some whose cars and campaign facilities were torched before the vote.
Major General Tariq Al Hassan, the public security chief, said authorities boosted security across the country to safeguard the elections.
He said police “took appropriate measures” to address complaints of voter intimidation and arrested seven people.
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