Manama, Sept. 28 – (BNA): The Executive Director also Chairman of the Legislation and Legal Opinion “Fatwa” Commission, Attorney Abdullah Al-Buainain, said that the “upcoming elections on November 22nd are not in need of any international observers”.
Al-Buainain emphasised that the Election Commission has permitted local observers from civil society associations. Al-Buainain pointed out that local observers are deemed as the Commission’s “second eye” to ensure transparent and fair elections.

He told Al-Ayam newspaper that the election law has always been under the focus of the Judicial Authority, pointing out that the twelve polling stations would be sufficient for the purpose but could be amended, whenever need shall arise.

He said that the Commission does not allow the elections to become vulnerable to religious legal opinionating in the country of democracy where each and every voter has the right to vote without susceptibility to influence from any opinion maker or ideologue.

Al-Buainain said that Bahrain is entirely safe and secure and the Bahraini voters won’t be barred from accessing the ballot boxes by anything.

He anticipates more candidates to appear in the coming period and after door will be opened for nominations on October 15.

Regarding latest amendment of constituencies, he said that constituencies are not subject to anybody’s monopoly even though some contenders compete in the same constituency as survival will always be for the strongest candidates.

He said that the competent election management authority will announced the electorate mass soon. Accurate figures will be published after final consideration of objections submitted by electorates. He said that voters will be observers of the electoral tables before and after the announcement of the electoral mass.

(IY)

I.Y

BNA 0801 GMT 2014/09/28