As the Shura Council election campaign heats up, issues like youth and women empowerment and education have topped the election programmes of many candidates.
More than 10 candidates have withdrawn from the election process.
Candidates’ programmes and their campaign promises have mainly been similar, covering fighting corruption, promoting integrity, transparency, health care support, and others.
The election manifestos also include sponsoring outstanding students, promoting the rights of women and children and giving them special priority, reviewing the employment policy, and taking care of the medical staff.
In his campaign plans, candidate Nasser Faraj Al Ansari, Constituency 10, focused on the necessity of qualifying Qatari youth to take leadership roles and amending labour laws to help Qatari women balance social and work life.
For her part, Aisha Jassim Ali Al Kuwari, the candidate for Constituency 22, stressed that she is working to activate the role of youth centres to help support and empower young people.
“Youth issues will be my top priority, especially providing them with job opportunities,” she said in her electoral programme.
Al Kuwari also believes that the percentage of women’s participation in the Shura Council is excellent, adding that, “if I win, I will work on issues that concern Qatari women so that women can enjoy all their rights, and this can be done by amending some laws.”
Lina Nasser Al Dafa, a candidate for Constituency 17, stated that her electoral programme contains many important matters such as strengthening the role of women and youth to take their responsibilities in various national issues. She also emphasised on raising the efficiency of health institutions, and the need to increase educational institutions, including preparatory schools and kindergartens.
Fourteen venues, comprising nine club halls and five youth centres have been provided to candidates to hold their campaign events free of charge. A candidate also has the right to hold a meeting in a hotel at his expense and after notifying the Supervisory Committee.
There are more than 250 candidates, including nearly 30 women, vying for 30 seats from as many constituencies.
