PARLIAMENT AND DEMOCRACY - Inter-Parliamentary Union

Facing the future I 187
State: give prominence to the role of the National Assembly as the
democratic institution representing the people……The backgrounds of
the deputies are more diverse and broad, comprising representatives
from various classes, ethnic groups, religions and areas. Therefore,
different segments or population communities in society have their own
representatives to raise their voices in the National Assembly arenas.
During the recent sessions people have witnessed a more open and
frank atmosphere, some deputies even expressing their opposite opinions
from the Standing Committee of the National Assembly……These
signs show that there is much more democracy in National Assembly
activities than in previous legislatures. However, people are still
concerned that working methods of the National Assembly remain not
as democratic as expected.
The submission from Oman notes that ‘Shura and democratic practice in
the Sultanate have developed gradually, taking into account reality and the
conditions of Omani society, side by side with an openness to being guided by
the experience of others.’ It reports on the gradual strengthening over the past
decade of the role of the elected Shura Council within the two-council legislative
system, and the extension of the right to vote to all citizens over 21, male
and female, in 2003. This extension has led to a much greater diversity in the
composition of the Shura Council, which ‘enriches the debates and discussion
of the Council, and increases its effectiveness in carrying out its functions and
in representing Omani society.’
The submission from Egypt points to the introduction of direct elections for
the Presidency and the creation of a national Human Rights Commission as
key elements is its recent democratic evolution. The latter gives a central role
to Parliament:
Since the parliament is the guardian of rights and liberties, and
because the Assembly deemed it necessary to establish a parliamentary
human rights committee in order to revitalize its role in protecting such
rights, the Assembly created the Human Rights Committee. This is a
system that is well known in the parliaments of the advanced countries,
where such committees consider complaints and forward them to the
competent authorities, while ensuring follow-up. The Committee can
thus carry out an oversight role of the actions of the executive branch
through a report that it submits to the Assembly.
The submission from the National Assembly of Lebanon identifies the
transition that has taken place in parliament over the past decade as marking a