Bahrain’s legislative term drew to a close yesterday with two keynote addresses emphasising royal support for Parliament, unity during challenges, and continued legislative-executive co-operation, as the sixth term is extended into a fifth session by royal order.
Speaking at the final Parliament sitting, National Assembly and Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam praised the Royal Order ending the fourth session and extending the sixth legislative term for both chambers as ‘a reflection of His Majesty’s confidence in the legislative authority and an added national responsibility to double our efforts and press ahead to achieve our goals and aspirations’.
Mr Al Musallam opened by conveying Parliament’s gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad for his ‘lofty royal patronage of the legislative authority and sustained support for Parliament’s work in serving the nation and its citizens within the comprehensive development march’. He stressed that the legislative and national achievements realised during the session ‘would not have been possible without this royal care’.
He added that His Majesty’s recent remarks to the media ‘serve as a beacon for national action and a firm methodology to safeguard the interests of the nation and citizens, and a cornerstone for parliamentary duties and responsibilities’.
The Speaker also paid tribute to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, noting his role in ‘strengthening constructive co-operation between the legislative and executive authorities, and entrenching a continuous consultative approach in the spirit of one national team’.
Mr Al Musallam praised the ‘constructive integration and effective co-ordination’ with the Shura Council led by Chairman Ali Saleh Al Saleh, and acknowledged the support of senior ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.
Special mention was reserved for Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain for his ‘well-recognised national role in co-ordinating between the two authorities’.
He commended MPs and Shura members for ‘exercising oversight duties through constitutional mechanisms, prioritising the supreme interest of the nation, and consolidating the values of loyalty, belonging and citizenship’.
Reviewing the session’s record, the Speaker said the fourth term witnessed ‘notable achievements for the nation and citizens’ through plenary sittings, committee work and parliamentary diplomacy, with Parliament acting as ‘the voice of the nation and citizens at home and abroad’.
He cited extensive debate on key national files, foremost housing and employment, alongside the passage of ‘vital legislation across various fields that contribute to national progress’, and stronger engagement with the private sector, civil society and strategic partners.
Mr Al Musallam also highlighted Parliament’s stance ‘in supporting the state’s efforts to confront malicious Iranian attacks, defend the homeland, protect its sovereignty and ensure the safety of all citizens and residents’.
He expressed pride in the armed forces, security and civil agencies.
The Speaker thanked Parliament’s Secretary-General Mohammed Ibrahim Al Sissi Al Buainain and staff for their ‘distinguished professional, technical and administrative support’, and praised the Bahraini Press for its objective coverage of parliamentary work.
In his address, Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister reaffirmed the government’s resolve to ‘enhance co-ordination and joint work with the legislative authority in the spirit of one team’ during the upcoming fifth session, following the Royal Order extending the term.
He said the executive authority draws inspiration from His Majesty’s vision and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister’s directives, which ‘have laid the foundations for institutional integration and reinforced co-operation between the two authorities in service of growth and prosperity’.
The minister praised MPs’ efforts throughout the fourth session and those before it, noting that they resulted in ‘a package of legislation supporting the comprehensive development march, foremost the approval of the state’s general budget, a cornerstone for economic stability and sustainable growth’.
Both speeches closed with prayers for Bahrain’s continued security, stability and prosperity under His Majesty’s leadership, and a pledge to carry forward the responsibility of representing the people with dedication and loyalty in the next session in October.
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