Qatar Votes in First Election With World Cup Spotlight Ahead
- New-look Shura Council won’t shift Doha’s balance of power
- Emir will retain veto over body, nominate third of members
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After almost two decades of delays, Qatar holds its first ever legislative elections Saturday, giving people a modest say in how they’re governed as it prepares for intensifying global scrutiny ahead of hosting the 2022 soccer World Cup.
Among Gulf monarchies, only Kuwait has taken real strides toward empowering voters, with a fully-elected parliament. Yet its quasi-democracy contributed to dysfunctional policy making. The ballot in Qatar, enabled under a 2003 constitution, won’t dilute the ruling dynasty’s power in the same way. It has, though, exposed undercurrents of dissatisfaction in a country that’s called for democracy abroad but tolerated little dissent at home.