On the anniversary of its founding, the Federal National Council is a paralyzed body that expresses order only

Tomorrow, the Federal National Council in the UAE celebrates the 48th anniversary of its founding, amid signs that the council represents the authority and system of rulers, not Emiratis.

And between the establishment and today, the parliament descended from bad to worse. It is no longer the parliamentary body that represents citizens as much as it represents the authorities, which makes it absent from its real role in decision-making and the future in the state after it was present in the early years of its establishment.

This reality was clearly demonstrated during a mock exercise of the Federal National Council elections held last October, which included the election of 20 new members and the appointment of a similar number amid almost complete control of the security character.

The main lists of the members of the Federal National Council were announced with a membership of 40, half of whom were elected by the Emiratis in elections without supervision or the presence of political parties, with candidates banned from speaking in politics.

A number of people appear within the names to be linked to the security services and have jobs in the state, so how can the jobs and the interests of society be reconciled?

The Federal National Council is one of the five federal authorities stipulated in the constitution, namely the Supreme Council of the Federation, the President and Vice President of the State, the Council of Ministers, the Federal National Council, and the Federal Judiciary. However, the Federal Council (Parliament) does not have any constitutional and legal powers, as its role is still limited to consultation.

The council includes, during the coming period, a group of the “security apparatus” chorus distinguished in targeting Emiratis and inciting to face their legitimate peaceful rights demands.

Among them is Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, who works in more than one government job in the Education Department in Abu Dhabi, President of the Emirates University, Editor in Chief of an electronic newspaper, and many other works.

Al-Nuaimi is considered one of the major Emirati security and intelligence men, and he is close to Al Bin Zayed and Al Bin Maktoum, the rulers of the state. The man’s closeness to the ruling families in the Emirates came because of his father’s strong relationship with the rulers of the state.

Perhaps the most important reason why Al-Naimi was one of the important options for the rulers of Abu Dhabi is his ancient history within the Muslim Brotherhood, which he defected from several years ago after Iyal Zayed won the positions, an article that betrayed him and his clan.

Observers have described the history of Al-Naimi several times in the Emirati councils as a traitor who does not trust and treacherously with his friends and family for positions and money.

He is involved in supporting terrorist movements in Syria and establishing terrorist groups in Egypt, most notably Jund al-Islam.

Among the other names designated in the Federal National Council is Dharar Belhoul Al Falasi, who heads the Watani Foundation, which is responsible for promoting the security apparatus, improving the reputation of violations, and placing societal covers on the country’s poor human rights record.

Also, Saqr Ghobash, president of the Federal National Council, was elected, although he held several government positions, including the Minister of Labor.

The move is considered a precedent at the world level, as it is not accepted that a minister from the system will occupy the presidency of the parliamentary body that is supposed to monitor the executive authority.

However, the Emirati system transformed the Federal National Council into a paralyzed formality without real powers, and what was clearly expressed was chaired by a minister from the same system.

Saqr bin Ghobash joined the federal government in 2008, as labor minister. Under the ministerial change in February 2016, he was appointed Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation to be responsible for managing the labor market.

In the past, the security apparatus imposed its policies on the council and prohibited talking about the human rights, living and humanitarian situation of the Emiratis, but it appears that it decided to appear publicly on the council with faces known to follow it.

The council was established with the establishment of the federation as a representative of the voice of the Emirati people in the seven Emirates. In its heated sessions when establishing, by discussing all the problems and needs of Emiratis and political and economic problems, the council deteriorated as it became a tool only to improve the authority of the security services.

Although the Council has no legislative and oversight powers, as its role comes as an advisory authority, it is within its competence: “Reviewing the state’s general budget project, and its final accounts projects. Discussing general issues related to the affairs of the Federation and submitting recommendations.

However, the council does not discuss any of the two matters, although the first issue is related to reviewing the disbursement of “public money” and “state revenues”, and the council usually discusses what the government requests to discuss and not the other way around!

What appears to be so is that international reports raise local discontent by observing mosques, preventing citizens and residents from performing worship without supervision, stopping freedom of assembly in the mosque or providing a sermon for worshipers without prior permission from the state security apparatus, and the authorities ’recognition that these are procedures they take.

Contrary to what is required of him to raise the concerns of citizens with the government and the security services, the National Council last January called on the security apparatus to monitor “all Emirates mosques” !.

The Executive Authority and the security apparatus in the Emirates control the Federal National Council, which keeps it in a state of paralysis and marginalization, although it is an authority that is supposed to be completely independent in a delicate balance with the rest of the authorities of the political system in the state.