Policy of Qatar

Interior policy

The Qatar is a Absolute monarchy where the emir is at the same time Head of the State and chief of the government. There is no electoral system and the political parties are prohibited.

Executive power

Family Al Thani is with the capacity since the independence of the country in 1971. The religious government and capacity are with the hands of Sheik Hamad who relieved his father Sheik Khalifa in 1995. More liberal than this last, Sheik Hamad announced his will to reform and modernize the country. The Freedom of the press made its appearance, and the television channel Al Jazira, founded with the end of the year 1996, is regarded as the only information source free and not censured in the Arab countries.

Advisory counsel

The Advisory counsel is composed of 35 named members. As its name indicates it, it has only one advisory role.

Political parties and elections

The political parties are not authorized in Qatar. First elections took place at the communal level in 1999, opened with all the citizens qatariotes, men and women, old of more than 18 years and domiciled with the country. The elected local officials do not have executive power, but can be consulted by the ministers.

The constitution project envisages a by-election of the Advisory counsel by the people, as well as a wide legislative power.

Foreign policy

Organizations members: OPEC, the, CCG, OPAEP, Damasc

Qatar is one of the countries founders of the Cooperation Council of the Gulf. Since his seizure of power in 1995, Sheik Hamad adopted there positions independent and sometimes of opposition, boycotting partly, for example, the annual summit of 1995 to protest against the nomination of a Saoudi to the head of the CCG. At the end of the years 1990, the country agreed to provide liquid natural gas (GNL) to Israel. In spite of the wish to preserve good relationships with the Occident, the emir condemned the bombardments of Iraq, by the United States and the United Kingdom. In the negotiations of OPEC on the oil quotas, Qatar decided in favor of a moderate course. In 2001, the country managed to get along with Saudi Arabia on their borders, but lost the islands of Hawar before the International Court of Justice which pronounced a judgment in favor of Bahrain.

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