MPs: Returning to appointments in municipal councils is completely rejected by parliament
Members of Parliament confirmed that the Local Administration Bill is still under discussion between the government and the House of Representatives, amid extensive dialogues that addressed the mechanism for selecting mayors, the powers of the executive director, and the form of local administration in the next stage.
They pointed out that the government held a series of meetings with parliamentary blocs and committee heads to discuss the draft law, at a time when the Cabinet is considering recommending an extraordinary session to complete the discussion of the project, stressing that the law will be subject to extensive discussions under the dome before its approval.
The MPs stressed that the presence of the executive director in the municipalities is a positive step to reduce favoritism in services, emphasizing that there is no fear for the powers of the mayor in light of the presence of the executive director.
The second deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Ibrahim Al-Sarairah, said that the government conducted an extensive dialogue with the representatives regarding the draft local administration law, the latest of which was a meeting that brought together the heads of the parliamentary blocs and the heads of the parliamentary committees, indicating that the draft law is moving towards maintaining the election of mayors instead of appointing them, in addition to granting broader powers to the municipal director.
Al-Sarairah added that there are opinions calling for the appointment of heads of some major municipalities, in contrast to demands for continuing elections in them, expecting that the project will witness a wide discussion during the next session, noting that the presence of the executive director contributes to reducing favoritism in services within municipalities.
For his part, MP Mohammed Al-Ghuwairi, a member of the parliamentary administrative committee, said that the issue of the executive director’s powers for municipalities was at the forefront of discussions with the government, given the importance of defining the relationship between the administrative and executive aspects within municipalities and the decision-making mechanisms.
Al-Ghuwairi added that what is required is to achieve a balance between the powers of the elected municipal council and the executive director, in order to ensure the efficiency of municipal work and the absence of overlapping powers.
For his part, the Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, Muhammad Bani Mulhim Al-Awda, stressed the MPs’ rejection of returning to the appointment system in municipal councils, stressing that the parliamentary position adheres to the principle of election as the basis for forming local councils.
Al-Awda stressed that there is no fear for the mayor’s powers from the presence of the executive director, noting that the goal of creating the position is to enhance administrative efficiency and oversight within municipalities.
In this context, the government continued its discussions on the draft Local Administration Law, through a meeting that brought together the Minister of Local Administration, Walid Al-Masri, and a number of ministers with the head and members of the “Nation Party” parliamentary bloc, headed by MP Saleh Al-Armouti.
Al-Masri confirmed that the meeting was the fifth with the parliamentary party blocs, explaining that the dialogue that began months ago aims to improve the draft law before its approval, and to reach a balanced formula that achieves oversight and efficiency and enhances the role of local administration.
He explained that the draft law is based on the outputs of the Political Modernization Committee, and aims to govern the work of municipalities, achieve financial and administrative discipline, improve services provided to citizens, in addition to strengthening oversight and preventing conflicts of interest.
He pointed out that the draft enshrines the separation between the supervisory and executive roles, so that the elected municipal council is responsible for setting policies, while the administrative body is responsible for implementation, stressing that creating the position of executive director will contribute to raising the efficiency of municipal work, rationalizing expenses and preventing overlapping powers.
Al-Masri also reiterated the government’s commitment to direct and secret elections for heads and members of municipal councils, noting that the project includes expanding the participation of women and youth, and strengthening the role of neighborhood committees in identifying the needs of the areas.
For his part, Minister of Youth Raed Al-Adwan said that the draft law develops the role of governorate councils by transforming them into platforms for development and investment planning, which contributes to creating productive projects and job opportunities for young people.
He pointed out that the project enhances the participation of youth and women in local councils, and gives provincial councils a greater supervisory and technical role in monitoring projects and determining development priorities.
For their part, the head and members of the “Nation Party” parliamentary bloc stressed the importance of the dialogue that the government is conducting regarding the draft law, emphasizing their commitment to holding elections for municipal councils according to the direct election system, and supporting holding municipal elections through two separate ballots for the mayor and council members.
They also called for strengthening internal oversight, expanding the executive director’s qualifications to include administrative and developmental specializations, in addition to supporting digital transformation, activating neighborhood committees, and improving the efficiency of services provided to citizens.