He said that Bahrain’s 2011 parliamentary by-elections as a new pioneering step on the path of the comprehensive reform march and democratic development.
“Holding the parliamentary by-elections as scheduled and with the participation of all citizens, who were able to exercise their political and constitutional rights in voting and running for the elections, is a vivid proof of the leadership’s commitment to laying the pillars of the modern, civil and democratic state and carrying on with the parliamentary experience to represent the popular will through free and transparent elections,” he told a Press conference on Saturday at a bye-election Media Centre.
“The massive turnout of voters is an index of maturity of the democratic process in Bahrain and an evidence of citizens’ awareness to champion the supreme national interest and place it above any sectarian or ideological considerations,” he added pledging to continue the development march and protect national achievements brought about by the royal reform project of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
“Due to the significance of this outstanding democratic event, IAA is committed to implementing the directives of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to ensure a comprehensive media coverage of the elections,” he stressed.
“Promoting the culture of voting according to the constitution and raising citizens’ awareness of their rights to political participation is IAA top priority which emanates from keenness to further promote national unity and freedom of expression in a climate of political and cultural pluralism.”
Shaikh Fawaz revealed that IAA has carried out a comprehensive scheme to cover the elections, including the setting up of the by-elections media centre at Isa Cultural Centre, preparing reports, holding interviews as well as radio and television programmes with political and legal experts, allowing candidates to highlight their electoral programmes on Bahrain TV and ensuring news coverage via social networking websites.
“All needed technical and administrative facilities are available at the media centre in order to ensure the best coverage of the event with utter transparency and freedom,” he said calling on journalists to do their job accurately and transparently.
Shaikh Fawaz expressed hope the by-elections and their media coverage would further project the kingdom’s honourable image worldwide.