MPs to vote on amendment granting them more powers

Manama : Parliamentarians will vote on a constitutional amendment this week to grant them more power to monitor the performance of the Government. 

Tabled by 29 members of the house, the voting aims to amend Article 91 of the Kingdom’s constitution to give MPs more authority to enhance government performance.

The proposal, if approved, will allow lawmakers to question any member of the Cabinet, against the current law which allows only to question ministers.

Explaining the move, the MPs said the amendment would “widen the jurisdictions of legislators and create more balance between both the Legislative (Parliament and Shura Council) and Executive (Government) Authorities”.

If approved, the move will grant MPs and Shura Council members the right to question any member of the Cabinet by sending them written questions and receive a reply in the same form.  The request received the initial approval of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry and the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee in the council.

It will be reviewed and voted on by the 40-member council during their regular weekly meeting on Tuesday.

It’s noteworthy that the existing Article 91 of the constitution states, “Any member of the Shura Council or the Council of Representatives may direct written questions at Ministers to clarify matters coming within their sphere of competence, and the questioner may comment only once on the reply. If the Minister adds anything new, the member shall be further entitled to comment. The question may not relate to an interest of the questioner or his relatives to the fourth degree.”