Al-Ahmed: “I offer advice to the Government, in the shadow of the current circumstances of widespread public anger. The Government must do more to cooperate with Parliament”
Al-Ahmed: “We want to display our good intentions and demonstrate that cooperation must prevail between the [executive and legislative] branches”
Member of the Bahrain National Bloc
Member of the Permanent Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs
Member of Joint Parliamentary Committee for Reviewing Subsidy Reform (July 2015)
Member of Mumtalakat Investigation Committee (April 2015)
Member of Government Action Plan Committee (Jan-Feb 2015)
Al-Ahmed has been by far one of the most outspoken MPs in urging rejection of the 2015-16 State Budget, which he criticized on a wide number of grounds. This position has put him at loggerheads with the Chairman of the Finance Committee, which Al-Ahmed himself is a member of. On 29 June, as Al-Kooheji and other Finance Committee members held a press conference stressing the achievements of the Budget, Al-Ahmed was briefing the media about why MPs should reject the document.
Al-Ahmed is one of the most effective parliamentary users of the social media and is confident in engaging with journalists, apparently often briefing journalists “off-the-record” as a “parliamentary source”. During the 2014 elections campaign Al-Ahmed was one of the most systematic candidates in setting out his elections platform, using the social media and waging an effective campaign.
Al-Ahmed has also shown himself to be active in regularly meeting local constituents. For example, in a large 11 March 2015 public meeting with residents of Isa Town, he brought senior figures from the Parliament along with him to discuss local concerns. Al-Ahmed has been consistent in raising issues of local concern like housing and services with ministers.
However, Al-Ahmed established himself as something of a trouble-maker in Parliament in his early months as an MP. Al-Ahmed was reproved by the Parliament Chairman for raising points of order that had little to do with the agenda and on at least one occasion was at the centre of a walkout in February 2015. A subsequent statement accusing the Parliament Chairman of deals behind the scenes earned Al-Ahmed sharp rebukes from other MPs. Al-Ahmed was one of the most vocal advocates of the failed bid to summon the Health Minister for interrogation over issues raised in the Financial Audit Bureau Report.
However, during debates around the Financial Audit Bureau report and other public finance issues Al-Ahmed appeared to be maturing as an MP ready and willing to take a tough stance on wastage of public spending and keen to fulfill his public mandate for holding government departments to account. His parliamentary interventions often quote data and statistics to inform the debate.
Al-Ahmed caused a media storm on 7 March when he claimed that the Financial Audit Bureau report revealed the wastage of 400 million BD of public money (just over $1bn).
In his opposition to the Budget and several other of his controversial positions, Al-Ahmed has often formed tactical alliances with Islamist MPs, such as those figures affiliated with Al-Asalah. However, in October 2015 it was reported that Al-Ahmed would be joining the Bahrain National Bloc, along with several other middle-ground Sunni MPs.
During the 14 October 2015 election for membership of committees, Al-Ahmed won 35 votes for membership of the Finance Committee. A strong vote of confidence when former Chairman Isa al-Kooheji was knocked out of the Committee with only 10 votes. This is a strong indication that over the course of his first year in Parliament, Al-Ahmed went from being something of a maverick figure, to being an outspoken yet respected deputy with an influential voice on economic issues.
In October 2015 Mohammed al-Ahmed was one of the key proponents of a law to commit the Government to continue the “counter-inflationary” welfare payments to low income families. During the same parliamentary session
Mohammed al-Ahmed, one of the proponents of this proposal, pointed out: “This proposal doesn’t introduce anything new, it purely seeks to legislate counter-inflation payments due to the fears arising from economic turbulence”. He questioned why the Budget for 2016 recorded a smaller sum of money allotted for these payments.
ACTIVITY DURING 2015-2016 PARLIAMENT SEASON
Standards of living, health & education
Elderly: Al-Ahmed on 10 Aug praised the Prime Minister’s directives to make further benefits available for the elderly.
Benefit payments: During their weekly meeting on 20 October MPs voted in favour of measures to enshrine counter-inflation payments into law and more clearly define who is entitled to them. Mohammed al-Ahmed, one of the proponents of this proposal, pointed out: “This proposal doesn’t introduce anything new, it purely seeks to legislate counter-inflation payments due to the fears arising from economic turbulence”. He questioned why the Budget for 2016 recorded a smaller sum of money allotted for these payments.
Economy & employment
Markets: On 18 Aug Al-Ahmed expressed his thanks to the PM for his recent directive to evaluate the services requirements for the Isa Town market.
Good governance & public finance
Subsidies: On 5 Aug, Al-Ahmed at his local majils told attendees that subsidy reform would put BD 650m back into the Budget. He stressed the need for careful planning to maximize savings, ease pressure on citizens and minimize price increases.
On 18 Aug, Al-Ahmed said that it was “very likely” that Committee members would request a delay in implementing meat subsidy reforms. He said that Committee members had discovered that the Govt had extensive data and studies concerning the subsidies issue and that members were discussing with ministers the best manner for implementing reforms. Al-Ahmed said: “We don’t want to give citizens something in one hand and take it away from the other. Subsidy reform must be addressed comprehensively”. He stressed the importance of joint committees to study the subsidies issue, saying: “I would not consider it positive if we were to wait for the Government to implement an important decision like this and then we complain that it contradicts our vision”.
On 25 Aug, Al-Ahmed cited indications that the Govt was minded to delay meat subsidy reforms until October. He said that the committees had received little new information from the Govt and there were currently no further meetings planned. He added that the committees were currently at the stage of studying the data.
Al-Ahmed on 2 Sep noted that non-Bahraini residents and big businesses would be likely to be exempt from electricity subsidies following reforms. He said that discussions were ongoing about how smaller businesses would be affected.
Al-Ahmed on 14 Sep said that in an MPs’ meeting chaired by the Parliament Chairman, deputies agreed unanimously on the smart card option.
Member of the Committee for Supporting and Enhancing Government Revenue, Al-Ahmed said that “escalatory measures” were possible over meat subsidies, given the impact on citizens. He called for an open discussion of MPs at the opening of Parliament to unite positions and decide the way forward.
Ten MPs on 23 Oct (Dawoud, Qaratah, Al-Maarifi, Al-Khajah, Bumjaid, Bufarsan, Al-Ghanim, Al-Ahmed, Bu-Ali, Al-Noaimi) have demanded the holding of an open debate on the subsidies issue during the following week’s parliamentary session.
On 26 Oct Al-Ahmed told the media that MPs would submit an urgent bill for increasing financial compensation to families for meat subsidy reforms. He said that the Govt had made many mistakes over subsidies, including the failure to open met markets to competition, failing to reach agreement with MPs, and failing to give adequate compensation.
During the 27 Oct open parliamentary debate on subsidy reform, Al-Ahmed criticized the Government’s “disarray” over the subsidies issue and questioned the rush to implement these measures. He said: “The Government has no clear strategy for subsidy reform. I wasted four months of my time on the Subsidies Committee with nothing to show for it. Why has the Government put us in this embarrassing position? What is our purpose if we cannot do anything concerning this issue?”
Budget: On 6 Aug Al-Ahmed told the media that there were numerous reasons for him voting against the 2015-16 Budget, including what he saw as a violation of the pledges in the Government Action Plan and the failure to provide increased benefits to the disabled and elderly.
Remittance fees: During the weekly parliamentary session on 20 Oct Mohammed al-Ahmed was at the centre of a proposal for imposing fees on remittance payments from Bahrain. Al-Ahmed noted that the total amount remitted last year was around BD 2.5bn and the proposal purely sought to channel a small proportion of that for the benefit of Bahraini citizens.
Policing & regional security
Crime: Al-Ahmed on 6 Aug represented the people of Isa Town in thanking the local head of police in apprehending attackers of an Asian worker.
Iran: Al-Ahmed on 23 July condemned statements by the Iranian leadership concerning Bahrain, which he described as interference in Bahrain’s internal affairs.
Parliament role & constituent engagement
Affiliation: On 17 October the media reported the establishment of the Bahrain National Bloc, whose existence had been reported several months before, but effectively came into being for the negotiations around the elections for chairmanship of the committees. The bloc is to be headed by Abdulrahman Bumjaid. The bloc will reportedly include Mohammed al-Jowder, Ali Bufarsan, Ibrahim al-Hammadi and Ahmed Qaratah – all of whom were previously reported as being part of such a bloc – along with new additions Mohammed al-Ahmed and Mohammed al-Ammadi (Minbar).
Government: During a parliamentary debate on 13 Oct Al-Ahmed criticized the Parliament Minister for signing documents submitted to the Parliament, pointing out that whoever signed these documents then became the minister responsible for explaining them, even if not their specialty. He and other MPs questioned the constitutionality of this. Al-Ahmed added: “I direct advice to the Government, in the shadow of the current circumstances where there is widespread public anger. The Government must do more to cooperate with Parliament.”
Committees: During the 14 October vote concerning membership of the Finance Committee for the new parliamentary term, Isa al-Kooheji, Khalid al-Shaer and Nasir al-Qaseer were voted off the Committee with only ten votes, ten votes and 15 votes respectively. During the same vote, Mohammed al-Ahmed won 35 votes.
ACTIVITY DURING 2014-2015 PARLIAMENT SEASON
Housing, services & infrastructure
Planning: On 9 April Al-Ahmed praised the Prime Minister for the attention he had shown to Isa Town, in Al-Ahmed’s constituency, with his instructions to the Ministry of Works to take action to address local needs. On 14 April Al-Ahmed met the Minister of Works and submitted a file of issues which he said local constituents wanted raised with his Ministry.
Housing: On 12 April Al-Ahmed met the Housing Minister and discussed the needs of his local constituents.
Standards of living, health & education
Health fees: Al-Ahmed (17 February) said that the Government Action Plan had pledged not to impose any additional financial obligations on Bahrainis. Therefore, he claimed that the new fees “violated the Government Action Plan which the Government had pledged to follow to the letter”.
Health services: Parliament on 21 April approved a joint bill submitted by Mohammed al-Ahmed and Khalid al-Shaer for a comprehensive health centre in their Isa Town locality.
Poverty: Al-Ahmed was among the MPs who submitted a private bill proposing that the Ministry for Social Development raise the poverty level for benefit entitlements and that these benefits be extended to widows. The MPs pointed out on 25 April that the Ministry’s current allocation levels did not reflect reality and inflation levels. The proposal was submitted by Mohammed al-Ahmed, Anas Buhindi, Abdulhalim Murad, Ali al-Muqla Jamal Buhassan, and Nabil al-Balooshi.
Meat subsidies: During the 26 May parliamentary discussion, a majority of MPs spoke out against the Govt’s plan for halting meat subsidies. Al-Ahmed said: “Any decision for redistributing support is illegal and unconstitutional because we have not approved the Budget yet. Three days before the issuing of this decision by the Cabinet, the Finance Minister said that any decision for redistributing support would not happen without consulting deputies… The Government has let us down before the nation”.
Pensioners: Al-Ahmed on 4 July stressed his “solidarity” with the elderly in campaigning for higher levels of financial support. He expressed his regret that MPs had approved the Budget without pushing for further welfare support for the elderly.
Economy & employment
Bahraini workers: During the 24 February parliamentary debate concerning the Shura Council’s rejection of proposals to prefer Bahraini workers for jobs, Al-Ahmed quoted statistics showing that only 9% of those recruited for jobs during 2014 were Bahraini nationals.
Tourism: Al-Ahmed criticized the Government on the 20 January parliamentary session for failing to respond to his query about how an institution for tourism would be established after the closure of the Ministry of Tourism. The Parliament Chairman responded that his query was an intrusion and hadn’t been raised at the appropriate time.
Pearl monitoring: During a stormy 10 March parliamentary debate over a bill for privatizing monitoring the quality of pearls and precious stones, Al-Ahmed questioned the wisdom of introducing the bill as urgent.
Oil: Al-Ahmed on 27 April said that an increase in prices of oil derivatives for the public would go against the Government’s promise not to curb any of the public’s benefits. He warned that in such circumstances MPs would be ready to use its “parliamentary tools” against such a decision.
Employment: Al-Ahmed on 11 May met the Labour Minister to discuss a number of employment-related issues.
Good governance & public finance
Action Plan: Al-Ahmed on 20 January caused controversy during a tense parliamentary session on the Government Action Plan, where he called Government performance to be “obscene”, spurring the head of Parliament to unsuccessfully suggest that Al-Ahmed’s comments be struck from the official minutes.
Audit report: Al-Ahmed said that the audit report showed that 400m BD of public funds had been wasted. Al-Ahmed said that the same violations were continuing to repeat themselves that had appeared in previous reports. Funds were being wasted that could be used to improve standards of living.
During the 14 April parliamentary debate concerning the annual Financial Audit Bureau report, Al-Ahmed stressed that the Bahraini public had high expectations for Parliament in addressing this report. He questioned why the Ministers of Health and Transport had not attended the session, despite them being singled out as requiring interrogation. He questioned why the Government had only transferred five cases to the Public Prosecutor, when the parliamentary Financial Committee had cited 50 cases requiring referral.
Minister interrogation: Al-Ahmed on 16 April said that a formal request for interrogating the Health Minister over shortcomings in his ministry would be issued on 19 April.
Al-Ahmed on 25 April responded to the Parliament Chairman’s denial that he had received the statement signed by 33 MPs demanding the referral of Audit report violations to the Public Prosecution. Al-Ahmed said that the statement had indeed been conveyed to the Deputy Chairman of Parliament during an open session. He criticized the lack of coordination over such an important issue.
Al-Ahmed on 4 May told the media that he was determined to see the interrogation go ahead and that that it should be public, saying that situating the interrogation in a private committee was the “equivalent of burying it alive”.
During the 5 May parliamentary session an insufficient number of MPs voted in support of interrogating the Health Minister over issues raised in the Audit report (23 supported, below the 2/3 quota of 27 MPs). Al-Ahmed voted in favour of the interrogation.
Interrogation procedures: Al-Ahmed on 9 May told Al-Ayam newspaper that MPs were in agreement on passing modifications simplifying the ministerial interrogation process. He said that during the coming parliamentary session on the issue, he would propose an amendment requiring just five sponsors for an interrogation, with no need for further approval.
Mumtalakat: During the 31 March parliamentary session the Minister of Communications responded to questions from Al-Ahmed about how the sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat’s debts would be covered. The Minister noted that Mumtalakat’s losses were 560 million BD, but said that addressing these losses was the responsibility of the company.
During the 7 April parliamentary session, Al-Ahmed criticized the performance of the sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat. He said that Mumtalakat “hadn’t pumped a single 100 fils coin into the state budget since its establishment in 2006”. Al-Ahmed was responding to a reply by the Transport Minister to an earlier question by Al-Ahmed about the performance of companies under the control of Mumtalakat. Al-Ahmed and the Minister made conflicting claims about the respective profits and losses of companies associated with Mumtalakat.
Al-Ahmed on 8 April said that a group of MPs were calling for the formation of a committee for investigating of Mumtalakat. He added that the investment fund, Edama, had recorded losses of 240 million BD for 2010-2011. Al-Ahmed raised questions of transfer of land ownership by the company and the business links between Mumtalakat and Edama. Edama subsequently published a statement contradicting claims by Al-Ahmed made in Parliament about its profits and losses.
On 14 April Al-Ahmed said that a number of MPs (Jalal al-Mahfoudh, Fatimah al-Asfour, Majid al-Asfour, Jaffar Milad, Mohammed al-Ammadi, Mohammed al-Jowder, Ahmed Qaratah and Mohammed al-Ahmed) has proposed setting up a committee to probe the “collapse of the financial situation” of Mumtalakat.
During the 21 April parliamentary session, a majority of MPs agreed on the proposal to set up a committee to probe the dealings of Mumtalakat.
Public debt: Mohammed al-Ahmed was among the deputies who strongly welcomed the Prime Minister’s pledges that essential public services and benefit programmes would not be affected by the parliamentary vote limiting the debt ceiling. (1 April)
During the 2 July parliamentary session when a majority of 18 MPs approved an increase in the debt ceiling to BD 7bn, Al-Ahmed voted against.
Budget: Al-Ahmed told the media on 9 March that he expected the Budget to be submitted to Parliament “this week”.
Al-Ahmed on 14 April told Al-Wasat newspaper that the Government appeared to be preparing a budget based on reducing spending across departments. He said that he hoped the Government would give Parliament sufficient time to properly discuss the Budget. He said that there should be “good intentions” and cooperation between the Government and Parliament in addressing the Budget. However, he stressed the need for previous pledges about key public programmes to be included in full in the budget.
Al-Ahmed on 8 June said that the joint Shura-Nuwab Finance Committee would hold an important meeting the following Sunday with ministerial representatives. The meeting is to discuss subsidy reform and the Budget. He said that the joint Committee during its previous meeting had agreed on a number of major projects which could be shelved with the aim of reducing borrowing.
On the same day that head of the Finance Committee, Al-Kooheji, chaired a press conference stressing the achievements of the Budget, Al-Ahmed on 29 June told the media that MPs should reject the Budget, because it failed to offer real benefits for citizens.
During the 2 July special parliamentary session in which a small majority of MPs voted to approve the State Budget, Al-Ahmed stated that the Budget failed to achieve the promises set out in the Govt Action Plan. He warned that the Govt’s promise to review retirement benefits could harm the elderly; criticized the Govt’s determination to go ahead with subsidy reform without consulting MPs; and raised concerns about new criteria in benefits for the disabled. Al-Ahmed also reiterated his criticism that the dollar on each barrel of oil accorded to Bapco masked the true prices of oil and criticized the failure of Mumtalakat’s profits to appear in the Budget. Al-Ahmed voted against the Budget.
Subsidies: Al-Ahmed on 14 June said that the joint Finance Committee and the Govt was agreed on gradually phasing out electricity subsidies for non-Bahrainis.
Al-Ahmed on 24 June claimed that the proposed subsidy reforms had been imposed on Bahrain by the IMF.
Civil Service: The Civil Service Chamber on 8 May responded to questions from Al-Ahmed regarding pay scales. They said that there was an ongoing reorganizational process, in which civil servants would be given a unified pay scale.
MPs’ benefits: On 12 May, Parliament voted to delay two weeks the vote on modifying retirement payments for MPs. Al-Ahmed agreed with the need to support the 2011 by-election MPs who weren’t entitled to benefits and having lost their seats were now unemployed. However, he said there was a conflation of this issue and the call to raise MPs’ benefits. He clarified: “It is objectionable for there to be any new benefits for deputies. We should not pass this”.
Upcoming generations fund: Parliament on 12 May approved the closing budget for the fund, as directed by the Finance Committee. However, Al-Ahmed criticized the competence of those managing the fund and called for the fund to be run on Islamic principles.
Benefits: During the 23 June parliamentary session MPs delayed discussion of a bill on increasing benefits for further study. Al-Ahmed stressed the need for increasing benefits, arguing that the bill should be delayed, not rejected.
Remittances: Al-Ahmed on 30 June proposed levying fees for foreign residents sending money abroad. He said this would boost Govt revenues without significantly affecting expatriate workers.
Policing & regional security
Terrorism: In a 8 June statement responding to the arrests of the Iran-sponsored Al-Ashtar Brigades, Al-Ahmed praised the efforts of security forces in thwarting attempted attacks.
Rights & freedoms
Monarch: Al-Ahmed on 21 May in a statement praised the selection of the King of Bahrain by the Arab Creators Union as the Best Arab National Personality for 2015.
Parliament role & constituent engagement
Secretariat General: During the 10 February parliamentary proceedings, Al-Ahmed disrupted events by insisting on discussing a matter not on the agenda (media allegations of corruption in the Parliament’s General Secretariat). After the head of Parliament turned off his microphone, Al-Ahmed started shouting and he and several other deputies (including Abdulhalim Murad, Nabil al-Balooshi, Dhiyab al-Noaimi, Anas Buhindi and Ahmed al-Qaratah) staged a walkout.
In a later statement Al-Ahmed blamed Parliament Chairman Ahmed al-Mulla for leaking false allegations to the media and saying that he would soon be providing evidence of “unjust” deals being done behind the scenes to “force changes of the Secretariat General”.
MP Khaled al-Shaer on 17 April strongly criticized comments by Al-Ahmed regarding the Secretariat General. Al-Shaer said that MPs shouldn’t interfere in the process of “change and development” and added that Al-Ahmed should “avoid illogical actions and reactions or extremist statements and positions which do not serve the national good for Bahrain and Bahrainis. He should not threaten anyone, so that others don’t accuse him of having a victim’s complex and harbouring conspiracy theories”. Al-Shaer strongly praised the Chairman of the Parliament as an “independent national figure, a man of the law and previously a judge with experience of parliamentary work”.
Affiliation: At different times in his past, journalist Al-Ahmed has appeared to adopt varying ideological positions; at times pro-opposition, at times liberal and progressive, and at times of an Islamist flavour. It is unclear whether through the walkout and other antics Al-Ahmed consciously sought to align himself with other Islamists and perhaps identify himself with an Islamist or Asalah bloc (as MPs who criticized him seem to believe); or whether he will remain as a somewhat isolated maverick.
Engagement with constituents: On 11 March, Al-Ahmed chaired the first public meeting between deputies and the people of Isa Town. Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Parliament, Ahmed al-Mulla and Ali al-Aradi attended, along with MPs Isa al-Kooheji and Khalifa al-Ghanim. Al-Ahmed stressed the need to change public perceptions of the work of Parliament.
On 2 June Al-Ahmed had a public meeting with constituents where a wide range of issues were discussed, primarily in relation to the Budget.
Urgent bills: Al-Ahmed on 21 April criticized the legitimacy of the “urgent” marking on Government bills, saying that Parliament should take the decision on whether the urgency was genuine. He noted that the Government had just put forward four “urgent” bills requiring treatment over the coming four weeks.
During the 28 April parliamentary debate on the Finance Committee’s recommendation to reject 4 government bills marked urgent, Al-Ahmed criticized the manner in which these bills had arrived at one time for immediate handling. “The Chamber of Representatives is not a rubber stamp” he said.
Effectiveness rating
- Standards of living, health & education – 6
- Housing & services – 4
- Policing & regional security – 4
- Good governance & public finance – 9
- Economy & employment – 6
- Supporting constituents & youth – 4
- Rights & freedoms – 3
- Constructive Parliament role – 5
- Public visibility – 5
- Progressive/reformist credentials – 6
Results of 2014 elections – 2nd Southern
Areas covered: Isa Town, Zayid Town
Housing blocks: 809, 812, 813, 814, 840, 841
Registered voters: 8,212; Percentage 1st round voter turnout: 70.5%
First round vote:
Mohammed al-Ahmed – 1519 (27.4%); Isa al-Qadhi (MP) – 1169 (21.1%); Faydh al-Sharqawi – 1012 (18.3%); Yaqoub Nassim – 983 (17.8%); Abdulaziz Matar – 317 (5.7%); Mohammed al-Dhawadi – 274; Ahmed Matar – 173; Ahmed al-Murbati – 90
Second round vote:
Mohammed al-Ahmed – 3163 (66.3%)
Isa al-Qadhi (MP) – 1608 (33.7%)
Profile of election campaign: Mohammed Salman Mohammed Saleh al-Ahmed
Journalist Mohammed al-Ahmed has achieved a remarkable second round victory over incumbent MP Isa al-Qadhi, with Al-Ahmed winning over 66% of the vote and coming out with around 1500 more votes than his rival.
Al-Ahmed has been one of the more visible candidates in the 2014 parliamentary contest, using his understanding of the media and communications tools to reach a wide audience and engage his local constituents. One of his promotional posters cites his priorities as “Standard of living… then standard of living… then standard of living”.
After his convincing first round win, Al-Ahmed announced that he had been so impressed with the elections platforms of his rival candidates that he was adopting “all of these… to avoid them going to waste”.Al-Ahmed has been outspoken in warning about increases in personal debt, out of proportion with the relatively low wages of ordinary citizens. He quoted extensive statistics to back up his arguments.
Incumbent MP Isa al-Qadhi faced criticism from candidates and members of the public for his performance as an MP and he seems to have fought a somewhat lackluster campaign.
Constituency demographic
The working-class conurbations of Isa Town and Zayid Town were part of the now non-existent Central Governorate. These areas have historically been the most favourable for liberal, technocratic, female and broadly-speaking progressive candidates. In these somewhat more-diverse areas political societies – loyalist or opposition – have often struggled to make headway. Hence, all nine candidates in the first round were independents.
Know your deputy: Profiles of other Bahrain MPs
Adel al-Asoumi – 1st Capital
Ahmed Qaratah – 2nd Capital
Adel Bin-Hamid Abdulhussain – 3rd Capital
Deputy-Head of Parliamentary Human Rights Committee
Abdulrahman Bumjaid – 4th Capital
Nasser al-Qaseer – 5th Capital
Deputy Head of the Permanent Committee for Financial and Economic Matters
Ali al-Atish – 6th Capital
Osamah al-Khajah – 7th Capital
Shaikh Majid al-Asfour – 8th Capital
Mohammed Jaffar Milad – 9th Capital
Nabil al-Balooshi – 10th Capital
Ali Bufarsan – 1st Muharraq
Head of Committee for Youth and Sports
Ibrahim al-Hammadi – 2nd Muharraq
Jamal Buhassan – 3rd Muharraq
Isa al-Kooheji – 4th Muharraq
Head of the Permanent Committee for Financial and Economic Matters
Mohammed al-Jowder – 5th Muharraq
Abbas al-Madhi – 6th Muharraq
Ali al-Muqla – 7th Muharraq
Abdulrahman Bu-Ali – 8th Muharraq
Fatimah al-Asfour – 1st Northern
Deputy Head of the Committee for Women and Children
Jalal Kadhim al-Mahfoudh – 2nd Northern
Deputy Head of Committee for Youth and Sports
Hamad al-Dossary – 3rd Northern
Ghazi Al Rahmah – 4th Northern
Deputy Head of Permanent Committee for Public Utilities and Environment
Ali al-Aradi – 5th Northern
Deputy Head of Parliament
Rua al-Haiki – 6th Northern
Shaikh Majid al-Majid – 7th Northern
Head of the Permanent Committee for Shari’ah and Legal Matters
Dr. Isa Turki – 8th Northern
Abdulhamid Abdulhussain al-Najjar – 9th Northern
Deputy Head of Committee for Supporting the Palestinian People
Mohammed al-Ammadi – 10th Northern
Head of Committee for Supporting the Palestinian People
Jamal Dawoud – 11th Northern
Head of Permanent Committee for Public Utilities and Environment
Jamila al-Sammak – 12th Northern
Head of the Committee for Women and Children
Khalid al-Shaer – 1st Southern
Head of Parliamentary Human Rights Committee
Mohammed al-Ahmed – 2nd Southern
Abdulhalim Murad – 3rd Southern
Second Deputy Head of Parliament
Mohammed al-Maarifi – 4th Southern
Deputy Head of the Permanent Committee for Services
Khalifa al-Ghanim – 5th Southern
Anas Buhindi – 6th Southern
Deputy Head of the Permanent Committee for Shari’ah and Legal Matters
Abdullah Bin-Huwail – 7th Southern
Head of the Permanent Committee for Foreign, Defence and National Security Affairs
Dhiyab al-Noaimi – 8th Southern
Mohsin al-Bakri – 9th Southern
Ahmed al-Mulla – 10th Southern
Head of Parliament