Bahraini Shura Council's chairman praises positive political development

The Shura Council's Chairman, HE Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh, stressed that political reality in the Kingdom of Bahrain was going through a carefully studied, wise and positive .development and that it proceeded in firm and solid strides without hastily burning stages The steady progress is as agreed by the people of Bahrain since voting on the National Action Charter whose foundations were laid down by His Majesty the King, he added. Al Saleh said that Bahrain was a state of institutions and law and that the Council of Representatives and the Shura Council constituted the constitutional authority vested with legislative and monitoring powers stipulated in the Constitution and conceded by the people of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the National Action Charter. The Shura Chairman said in his interview with Bahrain News Agency (BNA) that the Council of Representatives and the Shura Council were are proceeding in an integrative direction that achieved the legislative balance in compliance with the Constitution. He stressed that cooperation between the two chambers of the bicameral parliament was capable of achieving more accomplishments that would contribute to securing the interests of the nation and citizen through constructive coordination and cooperation with the government. Al Saleh said that the relationship between the legislative branch with the government has always been and will remain built on mutual respect and close cooperation in compliance with the Constitution. This is also ascribable to the premiership of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, and constant follow up and unlimited support from HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, he said. The Chairman said in the interview that the door remained open for the dialogue that ensured the principles and tenets adopted by the Kingdom of Bahrain so as to accomplish further developments and progress in the democratic process initiated by His Majesty the King. Al Saleh said he believed it was too early to judge the outcomes of the ongoing dialogue amidst numerous transformations and developments urging a push ahead to ensure its success which should be the objective sought by all parties in order to serve the highest national interest of the nation. He expressed confidence the future would have more gains for Bahraini citizens, especially as the national dialogue continued. "Today we are undergoing an important phase in the history of the Kingdom of Bahrain as the wise leadership in the Kingdom has already begun the taking of unprecedented steps and initiatives not only in the Arab world but throughout the world aimed to preserve our national gains, stability and unity," the Shura Chairman said. He also highlighted the nation’s heritage in terms of the co-existence and cohesion of the community, saying that it was a national duty and responsibility for every citizen who aspires for a better future for the country. Referring to the recent amendments in the Constitution, Al Saleh commended them, saying they were a typical forward-looking move in developing the political process and boosting reforms in the Kingdom, similar to democratic practices in various well-established democracies. The amendments included organising the relationship between the executive and legislative branches and the reformation of the Council of Representatives and the Shura Council in order to boost people's participation in the decision-making process. Al Saleh said that these modifications have widened horizons for Bahrain's democracy and satisfied the people's demand as conceded in the national dialogue. "We consider these constitutional amendments as a national accomplishment that will pave the way to attain numerous accomplishments related to the development of the legislative authority," he said.