Despite Strong Showing in Bahraini Elections, Opposition Still Skeptical
November 28, 2006

The New York Times is reporting that the Shi’ite opposition party has gained sixteen more seats in the Bahraini National Assembly raising their total to 40% of the elected body.  There are a total of 40 seats in the legislature.  There will be a runoff vote on December 6th to determine the winner of a 17th contested seat.  None of the 18 women who ran in the elections defeated an opponent, but a woman did win a seat after running unopposed.  A Washington Post report says that the overall voter turnout was up 18% from the 2002 elections, with 72% of the countries 300,000 eligible voters casting ballots. 

According to Reuters some Bahraini’s have been discouraged by the elections despite gains by the opposition party because “all laws must be approved by the king and unelected officials.” This is in reference to the veto power of the upper house of parliament that is appointed by King Hamad al-Khalifa.  The opposition leaders share this skepticism with other citizens, with one member of the Wefaq National Islamic Society telling the New York Times that the electoral victory “might not translate into much political power.” 

Bahrain is listed as a “partly free” country according to the Freedom House publication Freedom in the World.  Political rights and civil liberties are ranked as a “5” on the Freedom House scale in the same publication. 

Sources:

Freedom House: Freedom in the World 2006, Bahrain
New York Times: Strong Showing for Opposition Party in Bahrain Elections
Reuters: Bahrainis flock to polls after tense campaign