According to Decision 47 by Al Thani, the committee will be chaired by Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, as well as several ministers and experts, the media said. Another decree, issued same day, ordered for an ordinary Majlis session to be held on 5 November.
The date of the election has not been specified.
HH the Amir issued on Wednesday Amiri Decision No. 47 of 2019, establishing a higher committee to prepare for the Shura Council elections, chaired by HE the Prime Minister and the membership of a number of ministers and specialists. #QNA pic.twitter.com/GZjsAtl9S4
— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) October 30, 2019
The constitution of Qatar, adopted in 2003, stipulates that 30 members of the Shura Council be elected and 15 others appointed by the emir, yet so far all Qatari lawmakers have been appointees.
The first general election was initially supposed to take place in 2013, then delayed twice. In 2017, the Qatari parliament acquired its first female lawmakers.
The Shura Council is mandated with adopting budgetary parameters, working out and discussing legislative initiatives, and monitoring the work of the ministerial cabinet. For bills to be passed into laws in Qatar, they need to be voted for by two-thirds of lawmakers and be approved by the emir.
