Noticias

Abu Dhabi: The Federal National Council elections, set to be held on October 3, are getting tough with 12 candidates withdrawing from the race, officials said yesterday (Tuesday).

Dr Saeed Al Gafli, assistant undersecretary for FNC Affairs and a member of the National Election Committee, said withdrawals indicated that the FNC polls this year will be more competitive and only serious candidates remained in the fray.

“Standing down from the race is also indicative of a maturing and more professional electoral process,” Dr Al Gafli stressed.

Dubai: Empowerment of women and people with special needs, the environment and education are some of the issue that Asma Khalifa Al Mezaina, one of the Federal National Council (FNC) candidates, hopes to impact if she wins in the upcoming election.

Asma, who works as a researcher at the Ministry of Economy, is running for candidacy in Dubai.

The UAE leadership is keen to empower women to become real partners in the country’s overall development, said Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs and Chairman of the National Election Committee on Thursday.

Gargash commended Emirati women for playing a pivotal role in the success of the electoral process, in a lecture on the Federal National Council (FNC) Elections 2015 at the Sharjah Ladies Club at the event held under the patronage of

Abu Dhabi: Scores of the 341 candidates running in the Federal National Council (FNC) elections started their campaigns across the UAE yesterday (Tuesday), bidding to win one of the 20 seats available.

The other 20 seats of the UAE’s unicameral house will be filled by Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates.

The hopefuls were promoting their credentials through billboard and newspaper advertising and press conferences, with many of them embracing the trend by using social media networks including Facebook and Twitter.

Each and every Federal National Council (FNC) candidate shall be bound to explain their programmes to the local National Election Committee (NEC) concerned before starting any electoral campaign.

The committee has instructed all FNC candidates to argue about, defend their political stances, and elaborate all components of their electoral programmes in writing in the all-new election form.

Abu Dhabi: Slandering other nominees and ‘buying votes’ can lead to individuals’ dismissal from the list of candidates ahead of the upcoming Federal National Council (FNC) elections, officials in the capital said on Wednesday.

Speaking to an audience of candidates for the FNC elections at a workshop on how to launch a political campaign, Dr Mohammad Salim Al Mazrooi, General Secretary of the council, said the voting process does not happen at random but is instead based on scientific methodologies.

Women constitute 22 per cent of the total number of candidates for the Federal National Council (FNC) elections 2015, with 76 women contesting from across the country.

The final electoral list released by the National Election Committee on Monday has 341 nominees from an initial pool of 347.

The committee recorded appeal requests against three candidates - two from Sharjah and one from Abu Dhabi. After a review process, the two appeals in Sharjah were accepted, while the third was rejected.

ABU DHABI // The call for more women to take part in the Federal National Council elections has been met with great response – they make up almost a quarter of the final list.

The National Election Commission announced 341 candidates, including five past members, are eligible to run for the council. Of these, 78 are women.

Three appeals against those standing were lodged with the NEC and two were upheld, removing an Abu Dhabi candidate and one from Ras Al Khaimah from the race.

ABU DHABI // Candidates for the Federal National Council have told of their reasons for stepping forward, as the objection process for the elections began on Monday.

Sheikh Musallam Salem bin Ham Al Ameri said the people of his emirate had asked him to nominate himself. “The idea was crossing my mind, but when the people asked me to run I was happy to,” said Sheikh Al Ameri, 37, chief executive of Kolluna Al Emarat.

The society promotes Emirati identity and trains nationals to deal with emergencies.