Abu Dhabi, UAE – 2 September 2023 – In collaboration with the Majalis Abu Dhabi at the Citizens and Community Affairs Office of the Presidential Court, the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs (MFNCA), organised a lecture titled ‘Federal National Council Elections 2023’, as part of the sixth edition of its Neighbourhood Councils initiative.
The lecture forms part of the Ministry’s efforts to promote a culture of political participation and raise awareness about the importance of the upcoming FNC elections in 2023.
Held at the Mufleh Aayed Al-Ahbabi Majlis in Al Ain city, the lecture was presented by Dr. Ahmed Al Mansouri, expert in law and international relations, and focused on explaining the role of the Political Empowerment Programme in creating the right conditions for more engaged and contributing citizens. It also highlighted the key aspects of the upcoming FNC elections in 2023, especially the hybrid voting system. Additionally, the lecture stressed the importance of constructive participation and familiarising voters and candidates with their rights and obligations.
“The empowerment journey in the UAE is achieved through a set of procedures that align with the unique character and needs of the Emirati community,” Dr. Al Mansouri said. “This includes enhancing the Federal National Council’s role, enabling it to be a supporting, guiding, and endorsing authority for the government, and empowering it to be a more capable and effective council, closely connected to national issues and citizens’ concerns, which helps solidify the values of genuine participation and the Shura approach.”
“Based on this forward-looking vision of the Political Empowerment Programme, the process to empower the FNC was implemented gradually, starting with the election of half of its members in 2006 through electoral colleges formed in each emirate, followed by the previous four election cycles, leading us to the fifth cycle this year,” Al Mansouri added.
Dr. Mansouri highlighted that the Federal National Council elections have made many notable accomplishments throughout their journey, saying: “The fifth election cycle includes significant additions and modifications, most notably the introduction of the hybrid voting system that combines remote voting – which allows voters to participate in the elections in the UAE and abroad using digital applications approved by the National Elections Committee – along with electronic voting at election centres.”
The speaker went on to note that the hybrid voting system, which is one of the most advanced and efficient of its kind, constitutes a major achievement for the electoral process, providing the highest levels of accuracy and transparency in the election process, in addition to facilitating, accelerating, and simplifying electoral procedures at all stages of the elections, including the electronic counting process and tallying the votes.
Dr. Al Mansouri stressed the importance of participating in the electoral process, whether as candidates or voters, calling it a national duty. He urged members of the electoral colleges to actively participate in choosing their representatives in the Federal National Council. “Participation in the electoral process reflects a sense of belonging to the nation and loyalty to the leadership,” he said. “It benefits society as a whole by selecting the most qualified individuals to represent the people of the UAE, express their aspirations, and communicate their issues with the government to find adequate solutions for them. This, in turn, promotes development and prosperity in the UAE, empowering citizens to achieve global excellence in all fields.”
The Neighbourhood Councils initiative in its sixth edition hosts a series of experts and specialists to deliver informative lectures across the country, addressing diverse topics with the aim of promoting a culture of political participation and raising political awareness among all segments of the community.