His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, chaired the regular meeting held by the Council this afternoon via video communication technology.

After the meeting, His Excellency Dr. Issa bin Saad Al-Juffali Al-Nuaimi, Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, stated the following: At the beginning of the meeting, the Council of Ministers renewed the condemnation and denunciation of the State of Qatar for the brutal Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip, which has continued throughout the day for ten days, leaving hundreds of people dead. Martyrs and injured civilians, men, women and children.

The Council called on the international community to intensify its efforts to immediately stop Israel’s attacks against the Palestinian citizens in the besieged Gaza Strip and in all the occupied Palestinian territories, and to stop all its criminal practices that are contrary to international law and humanitarian norms, including killing and terrorizing civilians, destroying homes and civilian facilities, and violating the sanctity of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. And plans for forced displacement from Jerusalem, ethnic cleansing and racial discrimination, as well as forcing it to implement resolutions related to the Palestinian issue issued by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council, which rejected and condemned the occupation and settlements and recognized the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

The Council saluted the steadfastness of the brotherly Palestinian people in Gaza and all the Palestinian territories and their valiant stand in the face of the Israeli war machine, and the great sacrifices they made and offered for the sake of their just cause.

The Council affirmed that the State of Qatar, which is currently making efforts to stop the attacks and violations of the Israeli forces, will remain with the Palestinian people until they achieve their full rights, foremost of which is their right to establish their independent state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Then the Cabinet listened to the explanation given by His Excellency the Minister of Public Health on the latest developments and developments to limit the spread of the Corona virus (Covid-19), and the Council affirmed the continuation of work with the measures and precautionary measures that have been taken in order to combat this epidemic.

After that, the Council of Ministers considered the topics on the agenda as follows: First - Approval of a draft law promulgating a law on the election system for the Shura Council, and for referring it to the Shura Council. The preparation of this draft law comes within the framework of the state’s completion of the constitutional requirements for the election of members of the Shura Council, in implementation of the lofty directives of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the country, “may God protect him,” to hold the Shura Council elections next October, in his speech at the opening The forty-ninth ordinary session of the Shura Council on November 3, 2020.

The draft law was prepared under the supervision of the Supreme Committee to prepare for the Shura Council elections, headed by His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, in accordance with the provisions of Emiri Resolution No. 47 of 2019 establishing and forming the Supreme Committee for preparing for the Shura Council elections and defining its terms of reference. The provisions of the draft law came in accordance with the provisions of The permanent constitution of the State of Qatar, to issue the electoral system by law, specifying the conditions and procedures for nomination and election.

The draft law includes provisions relating to the following:

The conditions that must be met by voters and candidates for membership of the Shura Council, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and legal rules of a constitutional character.

Allowing employees of government agencies to nominate for membership in the Shura Council, while retaining their jobs, promotions and seniority throughout the term of membership, as well as allowing members of all military agencies, both military and civilians, to be elected, in order to expand the base of popular participation.

Facilitating the registration process in the voters’ lists, including making it possible to apply for registration electronically.

Organizing the process of objection and grievance against registration in the voters’ lists and judicial appeals against decisions of voters’ and candidates’ committees.

Establishing controls on electoral campaigns, including setting a maximum amount of two million riyals for a candidate to spend in electoral campaigns, with the candidate’s spending of this amount and its sources of funding subject to oversight.

Requiring the competent municipalities to equalize the candidates in the places where advertisements or electoral statements are placed, and to allocate equal spaces for the candidates.

Imposing obligations on candidates when engaging in electoral campaigning, including respecting the provisions of the constitution, maintaining national unity and safeguarding the security of society, and not including in electoral campaigns advocating any tribal or sectarian tendencies, or what contradicts public morals, prevailing traditions, or religious and social values of society, or offending the other candidate or others, or inciting tribal or sectarian strife among citizens in any way.

Obliging the public and private media to observe equality in the media dealings between all candidates, and to observe objectivity and impartiality in the handling and media coverage of the elections in general, in accordance with the recognized professional principles.

Banning the candidacy of ministers, members of judicial bodies, military personnel of all military bodies, and members of the Central Municipal Council.

Allowing anyone with an interest to challenge the candidates.

Ensuring judicial supervision of the elections, through a committee to supervise the process of voting, counting and announcing the results, headed by a judge chosen by the Supreme Judicial Council.

Ensuring the right of candidates and their agents to monitor the progress of the electoral process, attend the counting process and announce the results.

Assigning the challenge to the validity of the election to the Court of Cassation.

Establishing severe penalties for electoral crimes, especially if one of the candidates obtains the support of a foreign person or entity.

Establishing severe penalties to guarantee freedom of voting and to combat vote buying or compromising the integrity of elections.

Second - Take the necessary measures to issue a draft law on the establishment of the Investment and Trade Court.

The draft law was prepared within the framework of the initiative to develop justice systems and create an investment-attractive environment in line with other steps taken by the state in this regard. The Council of Ministers had approved the requirements for establishing the court, including allocating an independent headquarters and a special budget for the court, appointing a specialized judicial team and providing trained functional staff for the court.

Third - Approval of a draft law on the regulation of parking lots, and referring it to the Shura Council.

The draft law defines public parking as the places determined by the competent municipality, within the planning areas, in coordination with the concerned authorities, for the parking of vehicles, whether these spaces are open or covered land, inside a building, beside the road or on the roadside, and the competent municipality supervises its regulation. As for private parking spaces, they are spaces owned by persons or entities, which are used as parking lots for vehicles, under a prior license from the competent municipality.