Doha, June 14 (QNA) - The Legal and Judicial Studies Center of the Ministry of Justice organized a legal symposium on "The Legal System of the Central Municipal Council (CMC)", as part of the council elections scheduled for June 22.

The symposium aimed at introducing both candidates and voters to the legislation and legal procedures in force in relation to candidacy and voting process, the procedural rules for the electoral process on polling day, and the role of the heads and members of electoral committees in organizing and managing the electoral process. It also aimed at educating civil society on the importance of the electoral process and the need for effective participation in the election of community representatives in the CMC.

Director of the Legal and Judicial Studies Center of the Ministry of Justice Dr. Saleh Ali Al Fadala said the important symposium is within the Ministry's keenness on providing the appropriate legal environment for the success of the electoral process of the CMC, and in accordance with the directives of HE Minister of Justice Masoud bin Mohammed Al Amri to coordinate with the parties concerned with this process to ensure its success and support national efforts to facilitate its procedures by introducing the electoral system and the candidacy mechanism, encouraging voters to participate in voting, and increasing the participation of women and youth with special needs in the electoral process in order to preserve the electoral rights of all.

The symposium reviewed the CMC election law in accordance with Decree 17 of 1998 regulating the election of members of the CMC, including the provisions about voters and candidates and the conduct of the electoral process. It also dealt with the mechanism for supervising the elections of the CMC in accordance with Decree No. 17 of 1998 regulating the election of CMC members, and the decision of the Minister of Interior No. 51 of 2014 determining the electoral districts of the CMC, the regions of each constituency and the number of members who are elected for each of them.

The symposium addressed the terms of reference, powers, responsibilities, organs and committees of the CMC in accordance with Law No. 12 of 1998 regulating the CMC and the laws amending it, and the internal regulations of the CMC. It also focused on the role of the judiciary in the electoral process of the CMC through its role in election committees and appeals and grievances examination committees. (QNA)