Abdul Aziz Abul
Encyclopedia
Dr Abdul Aziz Abul is Bahrain's
sole liberal MP, winning his seat in 2006's general election
when conservative candidates won a landslide victory taking the other thirty-nine seats in Bahrain’s forty seat Chamber of Deputies
.
While a member of no political party, he is close to Wa’ad
, the main leftist party in Bahrain. His election victory was put down to the backing he received from Al Wefaq
, which did not put up a candidate in his constituency and instead urged supporters to vote for him.
Since his election however he has maintained an independent stance, and at times been critical of proposals put forward by Al Wefaq MPs: when Al Wefaq called for an investigation into the Spring of Culture arts festival over alleged “immorality”, Aziz Abul along with parliamentary speaker Khalifa Al Dhahrani
and Abdullah Al Dossari, were the only three MPs to vote against the proposal. http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=173433&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=30001
An economist by profession, he is a strong proponent of privatisation of public utilities, urging the government to privatise the oil, gas, real estate, electricity and water industries. He has argued that the move would have benefits both in terms of transparency and competitiveness. http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=157235&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29195
Until his election he was head of the Constitutional Committee, which campaigned to overturn the constitutional amendments introduced in 2002. In particular, the Committee objected to the appointed upper chamber of parliament, the Consultative Council, and instead favoured a return to the 1973 unicameral political system with elected MPs sitting in parliament alongside appointed government ministers.
Immediately following his election he caused controversy when he told reporters that when he took his parliamentary oath he pledged allegiance to the 1973 constitution rather than the amended 2002 version. http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10108992.html. His announcement was criticised by salafists Asalah and former liberal MP of the defunct Economists Bloc
, Fareed Ghazi, who said Aziz Abul should forfeit his seat. Parliamentary speaker Khalifa Al Dhahrani ignored the call.
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
sole liberal MP, winning his seat in 2006's general election
Bahraini parliamentary election, 2006
Bahrain held parliamentary elections on 25 November 2006 for the 40-seat lower house of parliament, the Chamber of Deputies, as well as municipal elections. There was a 72% turnout in the first round of polling...
when conservative candidates won a landslide victory taking the other thirty-nine seats in Bahrain’s forty seat Chamber of Deputies
Council of Representatives of Bahrain
The Council of Representatives , sometimes translated as the "Chamber of Deputies", is the name given to the lower house of the Bahraini National Assembly, the main legislative body of Bahrain....
.
While a member of no political party, he is close to Wa’ad
National Democratic Action
The National Democratic Action Society - Wa'ad is Bahrain's largest leftist political party. It emerged out of the Popular Front, a radical clandestine opposition movement of Maoist, socialist and Arab nationalist orientation...
, the main leftist party in Bahrain. His election victory was put down to the backing he received from Al Wefaq
Al Wefaq
Al Wefaq National Islamic Society , also known as the Islamic National Accord Association, is a Bahraini political society, and the largest party in the Bahrain, both in terms of its membership and its results at the polls...
, which did not put up a candidate in his constituency and instead urged supporters to vote for him.
Since his election however he has maintained an independent stance, and at times been critical of proposals put forward by Al Wefaq MPs: when Al Wefaq called for an investigation into the Spring of Culture arts festival over alleged “immorality”, Aziz Abul along with parliamentary speaker Khalifa Al Dhahrani
Khalifa Al Dhahrani
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa King of Bahrain, assigned the Speaker of the Council of Representatives Mr. Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Dahrani to chair the National Dialogue because of the popularity and confidence he enjoys among all the political forces, in addition to his broad experience...
and Abdullah Al Dossari, were the only three MPs to vote against the proposal. http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=173433&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=30001
An economist by profession, he is a strong proponent of privatisation of public utilities, urging the government to privatise the oil, gas, real estate, electricity and water industries. He has argued that the move would have benefits both in terms of transparency and competitiveness. http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=157235&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29195
Until his election he was head of the Constitutional Committee, which campaigned to overturn the constitutional amendments introduced in 2002. In particular, the Committee objected to the appointed upper chamber of parliament, the Consultative Council, and instead favoured a return to the 1973 unicameral political system with elected MPs sitting in parliament alongside appointed government ministers.
Immediately following his election he caused controversy when he told reporters that when he took his parliamentary oath he pledged allegiance to the 1973 constitution rather than the amended 2002 version. http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10108992.html. His announcement was criticised by salafists Asalah and former liberal MP of the defunct Economists Bloc
Economists Bloc
The Economists Bloc is a liberal political party in Bahrain which was represented by three MPs in the 2002-2006 parliament, but lost all its seats in the 2006 general election....
, Fareed Ghazi, who said Aziz Abul should forfeit his seat. Parliamentary speaker Khalifa Al Dhahrani ignored the call.