The Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has ratified an electoral law that will govern the country's first legislative elections. The law defines the electoral districts for the Shura Council and specifies that one member will be elected from each district. Voting will be held to select two-thirds of the Shura Council's 45 members, with the first elections of their kind scheduled for next October.
The Amiri Diwan stated in a statement that the Amir issued Law No. 7 of 2021 regarding the election of the Shura Council, which will take effect from its issuance date. Among the provisions of the law are the eligibility criteria for candidates, regulations for electoral campaigning, judicial oversight of elections, and penalties for electoral offenses.
The Shura Council serves as the legislative body in Qatar, a Gulf country, tasked with discussing matters referred to it by the Cabinet, such as draft laws, the general state policy, and the budget for major projects, providing recommendations accordingly. According to the previous law, the Amir appointed the 45 members of the Shura Council, and in 2003 Qataris voted in a public referendum on the first permanent constitution of the country.
**Extraordinary Ambassadors Appointed**
In another context, the Amiri Diwan announced that Sheikh Tamim has appointed ambassadors to several countries. Salem bin Mubarak Al Shafi has been selected as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to Egypt. Khalid Mohammed Zaben Al Zaben Al Dosari has been appointed as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to Libya, while Sheikh Mohammed bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani has been designated as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to Turkey.
