Manama: March 25 – (BNA): The Bahrain Institute for Political Development (BIPD) organized a two-day training course on “Democracy and election systems”.
The course drew a large positive participation and vivid interaction with topics of discussion on the part of the participants regarding the process of election.
The course introduces the concepts of election systems the definition of the “right to elect and to be elected” and the formation of electorate body. Also, various systems and types of elections, including direct and indirect elections, and the advantages and disadvantages of each were discussed. The quota system was also discussed. The participants included members of civil society organizations and independents.
The Advisor of HM the King for Media Affairs Nabil bin Yaqoub Al-Hammer who is also the Chairman of the BIPD board of trustees said that the current course is the first bundle of pre-election training programmes launched by the Bahrain Institute for Political Development. The Institute will launch the second bundle of pre-election training courses in April and May, he said. The BIPD is committed to performing its role in full in spreading the sound basis of democracy through political, cultural and constitutional training to serve the whole community.
On the first day, BIPD Head of Training Department Ali Al-Bahhar explained in his lecture the election system adopted by Bahraini legislature in comparison with similar election systems in constitutional jurisprudence, pointing out that there has been a lot of positive interaction from the participants evidenced by their thoughts, remarks and constructive critiques. The majority of participants have had considerable political background and an experience of candidature or membership of political societies.
On the second day, BIPD political expert Khalid Al-Fayyad will lecture on the types of democracies and advanced democracies all over the world.
It is worth mentioning that the BIPD was created reliant upon Royal Decree No.: 39/2005 as a national institute aimed to primarily spread the culture of democracy in order to cement and boost the concept of sound democratic principles, impart political and development awareness in the Bahraini public and increase the knowledge of all community members and enlighten them on their rights and duties ensured by the Constitution, and relevant regulations.
The BIPD also develop individuals’ capabilities in order for members of the Bahrain community to exit from the circle of individualistic action to the circle of regulated, collective action. (IY)
I.Y
BNA 0802 GMT 2014/03/25