Embassies training individuals to take part in elections: MPs

Manama : Some foreign embassies in the Kingdom are supporting and training individuals who seek to enter the electoral race in 2018, several MPs told the House of Representatives yesterday.

In their regular meeting held at the House of Representatives in Gudaibiya, the parliamentarians strongly criticised foreign embassies for training parliamentary candidates as the elections are fast approaching.

The MPs also demanded Foreign Affairs Ministry to intervene and prohibit diplomatic corps from directly contacting citizens.

“Some foreign embassies are communicating with citizens, who seek to contest in the 2018 parliamentary elections, and sending them allegedly to attend training courses abroad. These courses’ objectives are unknown. We consider this as clear interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom which will affect the parliamentary elections that are usually organised in accordance with international norms and standards,” the MPs said in a joint statement issued after the meeting.

The MPs also hinted at training institutions in the Kingdom, such as the Bahrain Institute for Political Development, affirming  “Bahrainis don’t need political training from abroad”.

“The House of Representatives declares its condemnation, and rejection of such calls, which constitute blatant interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom and are contrary to the duties of diplomatic missions and foreign embassies in any country and constitute a departure from the rules established by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” the statement read.

The Council, while condemning these actions, called upon the Foreign Affairs Ministry to play its role and take decisive measures against embassies that carry out such acts. The council also called on authorities concerned to not accept any candidate for the upcoming elections in case they participated in such courses.