As Bahrain embarks on the 2022 parliamentary and municipal elections, candidates are expected to meet the expectations of voters in the event of their victory.
Bahrain had its first elections in 2002, following the constitutional amendments of 2001 (the National Action Charter). Ever since, the parliament has witnessed expressions of both satisfaction and dissatisfaction from citizens. Some Bahrainis see the parliament as a sign that the country’s political system is becoming more accountable and democratic, while others have expressed disappointment with the 2018-2022 parliament that had a majority of new MPs. Some voters have somewhat unrealistic expectation about the powers of MPs, and then become disenchanted when they don’t see major changes in their lives.
Here’s a look at whether Bahrainis will vote in the upcoming elections and why?
“This is our civic duty”
“Disinterest in democratic participation leads countries to instability. We have to vote, and we have to ask our friends and family to go out and vote. How else do we want to be a part of the decision-making process if we choose to ignore the elections” Amal 34.
“This is our civic duty, it’s our right. No matter how unsatisfied I am with the previous MPs, I would still go out and vote” Khalid 30.
“Many MPs have failed us repeatedly, but this doesn’t mean that all candidates are the same. We should go out and vote and we should vote for the best” Hamad 38.
“The elections are an opportunity for us to have a say in what’s happening around us. The parliament is far from perfect, yet it has had many positive outcomes in the past twenty years since its establishment” Abdullah 40.
“If we vote, then we have practiced our democratic rights”
“Being part of the process is certainly better than being outside it. If we vote, then we have practiced our democratic rights and can address our concerns through the right and legal channels rather than complain about government performance without doing the simplest things such as voting” Sara 32.
“Many people are used to having a negative outlook on things. We seriously need to consider the benefits of having a parliament and the many advantages it has had on the lives of ordinary Bahrainis during the past two decades” Salman 36.
“I think often people have an unrealistic idea of what MPs can do. Parliament isn’t the same as government – they can’t just vote for everybody to have a pay-rise and increase subsidies. Such popular measures would bankrupt the country in a couple of years. Greater democracy must be accompanied by greater democratic awareness” Ali 36.
“The Parliament is a failure. It has failed us in many instances. It just seems like a hopeless case and a waste of time to go out and vote” Mariam 28.
“We should understand the magnitude of the elections”
“Many young people will be voting for the first time this year. They should go out and vote and understand their duty towards their nation and countrymen. Some of these young people only knew Bahrain from the years after the National Action Charter and have lived through the age of transformation in our history. I hope they make the right choices” Abdulrahman 42.
“Since at least 2015, Bahrain has been faced with a major economic crisis. This meant that we have mostly seen cuts to public services, standards of living and subsidies. Recent increases in oil prices should take the pressures off out finances and finally allow MPs to propose measures which are affordable and possible” Fatima 38.
“If we dislike our incumbent MPs then we should vote for the best candidates. Voting is important and we should understand the magnitude of the elections and the parliament on our future” Ahmed 30.
“Staying away from the democratic process will not lead to anything but failure. We’ve had calls for boycott by religious extremist elements of the Bahraini opposition. This is completely destructive, and it harms those communities that will be misrepresented if they boycott.” Hassan 32.
“This is a young democracy”
“I’ve voted three times, but each time Islamist candidates have won in my constituency. It leaves me very frustrated because these radical figures will always support measures that are the opposite of my values; like reducing opportunities for women and restricting social freedoms” Zainab 34.
“This is a young democracy. We are still in the phase of democratic evolution; hence we need to go out and vote and understand that democracies are not perfect, neither are MPs or parliaments but we have to do our best as citizens” Khawla 27.
“I have no interest in the current elections. None of the candidates in my constituency seem to be at par with my expectations of what a parliamentarian should be like. Hence, I choose not to vote” Faisal 36.
“There hardly seems to be any candidate that deserves my vote. What are we expected to do in this case as citizens, shall we simply go out and vote for the sake of voting? It simply doesn’t make sense” Noor 29.
“If we vote then we are enabling a group of people whom we dislike to make our decisions. I would rather have the parliament dissolved completely and leave the decision making in the country to the state and the smart, educated Bahrainis” Mahmood 35.