Qatar
Shura Council
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Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
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Monarchy
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Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
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Unicameral
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IPU membership
Current membership status
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Yes
Election results
Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.
Background
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Election date(s)
The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
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02 Oct 2021
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Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
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30 Jun 2021
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Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
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No information available
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Expected date of next elections
The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
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30 Sep 2025
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Number of seats at stake
Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
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30
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Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
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Full renewal
Candidates
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Number of parties contesting the election
This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
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Not applicable
- Not applicable. There is no party system or candidates stood as independents.
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Yes
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Total number of candidates
Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
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233
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Number of male candidates
Number of male candidates
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207
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Number of female candidates
Number of female candidates
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26
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Percentage of women candidates
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
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11.2%
Results
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About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
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A total of 233 candidates, including 26 women, ran in the first ever elections to the 45-member Shura Council (see note). All candidates stood as independents in the country’s 30 single-member constituencies. Turnout was 63.5% according to the Ministry of Interior, which did not publish detailed figures. No women were elected, while two women were appointed by the Emir. On 26 October, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani convened the newly elected Shura Council. It elected Mr. Hassan Abdullah Al Ghanim as its new Speaker and Ms. Hamda bint Hassan al-Sulaiti as one of the Deputy Speakers. The new Shura Council serves a four-year term (previously three).
Qatar has played a major role in mediating between the US and the Taliban in recent years. The 2021 elections followed the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August. During the inaugural session of the new Shura Council, the Emir reiterated Qatar’s “adherence to dialogue as an alternative to wars”. He also commended health institutions, saying that they had “successfully passed the difficult test posed by the coronavirus”.
Note:
The 2003 Constitution provides for a 45-member Shura Council, comprising 30 elected members and 15 appointed members. In November 2011, the then Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, announced parliamentary elections would be held in the second half of 2013. However, they were postponed indefinitely shortly before the then Emir handed power to his son, Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim (the current Emir). Members of the Shura Council continued to be appointed by Emiri decree: 35 male members were appointed in 2013 and 2016. In 2017, the number of members increased to 41, including 4 women.
On 9 August 2021, the Emir issued three laws related to parliamentary elections, paving the way for the first ever polls: Laws No. 6 of 2021 (on the issuance of the Shura Council’s electoral system law), No. 7 of 2021 (on the Shura Council), and No. 37 of 2021 (on the electoral districts of the Shura Council and their respective regions). Qatari citizens over 18 years old were allowed to vote, and native Qataris over 30 years of age were allowed to stand for election.
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Percentage of parties winning seats
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
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Not applicable
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Alternation of power after elections
The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
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Not applicable
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Number of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
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Not applicable
Members elected, by sex
- Number of men elected
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30
- Number of women elected
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0
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Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected by the number of seats filled.
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0.0%
- Women Directly Elected
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0
- Women Appointed
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2
- Other notes on the elections
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Note on the timing of election:
First ever elections. Elections to the Shura Council (formerly known as the Advisory Council) had previously been announced for 2013 but were postponed indefinitely.
In 2016, the term of the then 35-member Shura Council was extended by three years to June 2019. An Emiri Decree of November 2017 appointed a new 41-member Shura Council, which sat until the 2021 elections.
Note on the expected date of next elections:
The new Shura Council will serve a four-year term (previously three). The next elections are therefore expected in 2025.
- Sources
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Shura Council (12.10.2021, 19.10.2021)
BBC Monitoring
New legislature
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Total number of men after the election
The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
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43
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Total number of women after the election
The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
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2
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Percentage of women after the election
The percentage is calculated by dividing the total number of women in this parliament/chamber by the current number of members.
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4.4%
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First-term parliamentarians
The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
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No information available
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Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of first-term parliamentarians by the number of seats at stake in the election.
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No information available
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Date of the first session
The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
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26 Oct 2021
First Speaker of the new legislature
- Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
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Hassan Abdullah Al Ghanim (Male)
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Date of election
The date of the election of the Speaker may be different from the date of the first session of the new legislature.
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26 Oct 2021