294 candidates register for Qatar’s Shura Council elections

DOHA, Qatar

The Supervisory Committee of the Shura Council elections in Qatar said Tuesday that 294 candidates across more than 30 constituencies have registered for the polls.

The committee shared the candidates' lists on its website after the passing of the deadline for submitting applications for the Shura Council (parliament) elections scheduled for Oct. 2 this year.

Of the 294 candidates representing different parts of the country, 29 were women, the lists showed.

Complaints and objections began on Tuesday and will continue until Thursday.

The final announcement of the lists of candidates will be made on Sep. 15.

Qatar has set Oct. 2 as the date for the country’s first elections to elect two-thirds of its advisory Shura Council, which dates back to 1972.

Voters will elect 30 members of the 45-seat council, while the ruling emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Than will appoint the remaining 15 members.

The Shura Council is an advisory and legislative body that discusses and approves general state policies, budgets, and draft law proposals.

Last month, Sheikh Tamim approved an electoral law that allows the Qataris to run and elect 30 of the council’s seats.

*Writing by Ibrahim Mukhtar in Ankara