An opposition society last night announced its six candidates, including a woman, who will be contesting next month’s parliamentary elections.
Progressive Tribune Society (Al Menbar Al Taqadomi) will field four candidates from the Northern Governorate and one each from Muharraq and Capital governorates.
Bahrain’s parliamentary and municipal council elections are scheduled to be held on November 24.
The society team, led by secretary general and former MP Abdulnabi Salman, plans to raise political, social and economic issues that are still not being addressed.
“Our agenda focuses on key areas affecting us, whether its the political situation, economic problems or social issues, like pensions, for example,” Mr Salman told the GDN.
“This election will be the turning point in Bahrain’s history because we are looking at different aspects – political, social and economic – where change is good for a better Bahrain.”
Mr Salman is running for a parliamentary seat from Northern Governorate’s Constituency 6 while the other five candidates are: Hassan Ismail, Mohammed Fateel, Dr Mohammed Showaikh, Falah Hashim and Eman Showaiter.
Mr Salman served in parliament between 2002 and 2006, but lost his seat for the 2006-2010 term to a candidate backed by the now-dissolved Al Wefaq National Islamic Society.
His society was part of an opposition coalition formed in 2011, which took part in a National Dialogue in both 2011 and 2013, and boycotted the election in 2014.
At a Press conference to announce the candidates, Mr Salman said the society was open to forming a coalition with other political societies and has already held talks with other leaders including religious figures.
“We met national figures and senior leaders from other societies, including the National Unity Assembly and Al Wasat Arab Islamic Society.”
Of the six other societies that featured in the seven-group opposition coalition formed in 2011, Waad was dissolved in May last year after being found to have glorified terrorists and acts of violence. An appeal against the dissolution is still pending at Bahrain’s highest court, the Cassation Court.
Al Wefaq was dissolved in 2016 for deviating from politics, inciting terrorism and promoting a forceful overthrow of the government, a verdict upheld by the Cassation Court in February.
The Islamic Action Society was dissolved in 2012 for breaching the Constitution and Al Ekha National Society disbanded itself in 2016.
The National Democratic Assemblage still exists, but secretary general Fadhel Abbas is serving a five-year jail sentence for a tweet he posted about the conflict in Yemen.
Former members of dissolved political societies have been banned from contesting this year’s elections to prevent the process being hijacked by radicals.
Forty polling stations will be open from 8am to 8pm on November 24, besides 14 general voting centres where residents of any constituency can vote.
A second round of voting will be held on December 1 for closely contested seats.
Meanwhile, overseas voting will be held at embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions abroad on November 20 and 27. Candidates will be able to file their nominations from October 17 to 21.
People wishing to obtain information on the elections or enquire about related services can visit the official website vote.bh or call the elections call centre 77277277.
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