His Majesty the King will have the authority to appoint the Prime Minister and charge him to form the cabinet, according to the deliberations of the National Dialogue.
“The participants in the political session of the National Consensus Dialogue have reached an agreement on this issue,” Al-Menbar Islamic Society representative former Mp Nasser Al-Fadhala told Bahrain News Agency.
He revealed that the biggest parliamentary bloc voiced its reservation over the Premier’s appointment without affecting the consensus reached by most participants.
“The choice of the Prime Minister by the biggest parliamentary bloc would drive Bahrain into sectarian quota system”, he said.
He warned against the detrimental impact of such a sectarian quota system, particularly in the recent deplorable incidents which sparked Bahrainis’ fear of sectarian divide and made them wary of such agendas and mantras.
“Given the power to form the government, the biggest bloc would have the monopoly of appointing the Prime Minister, which would pave the way for a sectarian-based Cabinet and drive Bahrain into a labyrinth”, he said.
The participants are discussing a proposal entitling the Parliament the authority to grant the newly-formed government the confidence, taking into account legislative procedures that prevent any sectarian quota-based system.
Under the proposal the Government’s programme would be outlined at the Parliament to wing confidence and approval.
“Al-Menbar Islamic Society approves both procedures, on the condition that rejection of the Government formation or programme should be by two thirds of the votes”, Al-Fadhala said. He described the proposed equation as crucial to prevent any sectarian-based quota.
Al-Menbar Islamic Society stressed the need for the Shura Council to have a say regarding the Government formation and programme, pointing its importance the Shura Council as a key pillar of Bahrain’s bicameral system.
Under the proposal, the Parliament would vote on the Government line up, rather than the ministers’ names to avert any sectarian pitfall, narrow affinities and animosities.
According to Al-Menbar, HM the King would be only authority to decide the duration of the Premier’s tenure, as stipulated in the Constitution and the National Action Charter.
It suggests maximum eight-year tenure for each minister, which corresponds to two legislative terms.