Delegates Agree to Further Expand Oversight and Legislative Powers of Parliament in Sunday's Session of the National Dialogue

MANAMA, Bahrain, July 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In its penultimate sessions yesterday, Bahrain's historic and comprehensive National Dialogue agreed to further enhance the powers of the Kingdom's elected parliament. The consensus reached at yesterday's session brought to a close discussions under the Dialogue's four announced themes.

Delegates agreed to establish greater legislative and monitoring powers for the elected parliament. In particular, the presence of a minister will be required when members of Parliament debate issues related to their respective ministries. Furthermore, members of Parliament will be entitled to question ministers during full parliamentary sessions, rather than restricting such questioning to committee. Overall, these decisions reinforce the parliament's powers of scrutiny over the government's activities and strengthen the accountability of ministers to the elected representatives of the people.

Although they discussed additional issues, participants did not achieve consensus on a number of other topics, including whether the Shura Council should be granted the same powers as Parliament or whether lawmaking and oversight should be restricted to the elected lower house.

The Dialogue also discussed placing the National Audit Court under the auspices of Parliament while granting it the right to amend the government's general budget without its approval. However, concerns about the independence of the National Audit Court impeded consensus on this issue.

Reconvening in a special session today, the National Dialogue will discuss 30 proposals about expanding expatriate opportunities and rights in Bahrain.

SOURCE Kingdom of Bahrain

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