Al Dhaen only female candidate in committee chairmanship elections

TDT | Manama

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Fourteen MPs will contest five committee chairs next week, with only one woman, Maryam Al Dhaen, in the running. All five standing committees plan internal elections as incumbents seek another term and rivals move to unseat them.

Women are seen as having better chances for vice-chair posts, which would broaden their role in the chamber’s work. Further names may enter before opening day.

Attention first falls on the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee. Current chair Mahmood Fardan wants another year.

Colleague

Abdulhakim Al Sheno had earlier said he would run; he has since stepped aside, saying he is not ready to chair in the coming period and would rather back a colleague in this final session.

“There was an initial wish, and colleagues showed support for it, but personally I do not see myself ready in the coming period to chair the committee, not for technical reasons. I prefer to support another colleague in the final session,” he said.

The Financial and Economic Affairs Committee points to a two-man race between chair Ahmed Al Salloom and vicechair Mohammed Al Maarifi, with talk of a mutual arrangement to avoid a split.

Expectations

Al Maarifi said he will stand, noting he followed many carry-over files last session and wants them finished to meet public expectations.

He called for accord among members to deliver outcomes that serve people directly, adding that the last session will carry weighty projects and needs firm understandings among MPs.

The Services Committee is set for a busy vote.

Bids

Dr Mahdi Al Shuwikh, Mohammed Al Olaiwi and Munir Seroor are preparing bids, with other entrants not ruled out.

Seroor said he has a ‘serious desire’ to run and spoke of early understandings that are not yet settled.

The positions of current chair Jaleela Al Sayed and her colleague Lulwa Al Rumaihi are likely to matter.

In Public Utilities and Environment, some members favour keeping Bader Al Tamimi to draw on past experience.

Interest

Khalid Buanaq has signalled interest subject to talks, and Mohammed Janahi said he will run, arguing it may be time to bring forward new faces and that he is ready to carry the role in the interests of the chamber and the public.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security is calmer, with signs of support to keep Hassan Bukhamas as chair.

Even so, MP Al Dhaen says she is weighing a bid, and there is talk that Hassan Ebrahim is considering one, though he has yet to give a final view.