(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - But the prominent opposition party, al-Wefaq considered the King’s proposal as an evasion from the real solution of the crisis.
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa referred his draft proposals to the national council, including the all-appointed Shura (consultative) council and the lower elected chamber, for ratification, the BNA state news agency reported.
The reforms fall in line with "our desire to preserve the stability of the homeland," King Hamad said in an address to the nation, ahead of proposing the draft amendments aimed at diffusing tension sparked after a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests in mid-March.
Under the proposed reforms, the king will have to "ask the opinion of the heads of the Shura council, parliament and the constitutional court" before dissolving the parliament, instead of just discussing it with the prime minister.
For its part, Aa-Wefaq said that the Bahrain wouldn’t overcome the crisis without a real Democratic change, saying that the King’s speech had no relation to the ongoing political situation.
In a statement released following the Hamad’s speech, the group described the so-called reforms as superficial, minor and had no relation with the political crisis.Al-Wefaq “found it strange that the royal speech was discussing minor issues”, the statement said, adding that the Bahraini people’s awareness have overpassed discussing these issues.
The group added that the speech wouldn’t have an effect but to increase people’s anger.It stressed that the authority’s legitimacy stems only from people, adding that the Bahraini people themselves should elect their authority.
/106