DOHA, Qatar

Qatar has set October 2 as the date for the country’s first elections to elect two-thirds of its advisory Shura Council (parliament).

A decree by Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said voters will cast their ballot on Oct. 2 to elect members of the Shura Council.

Voters will elect 30 members of the 45-seat council, while the ruling emir will appoint the remaining 15 members.

The Shura Council is an advisory and legislative body which 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 Ahmed Asmar in Ankara