QUIET CAMPAIGNING FOR FNC ELECTIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 004477

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL, NEA/ARP, NEA/PI, NEA/PPD

E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM AE
SUBJECT: QUIET CAMPAIGNING FOR FNC ELECTIONS

REFS: ABU DHABI 4406 AND PREVIOUS


1. (SBU) Summary: A mild sense of anticipation has candidates and
the public watching for results of the first UAE Federal National
Council (FNC) limited elections to take place December 16, 18, and

20. The 14-day campaign period for 20 FNC seats ends December 14;
candidates have promoted their electoral platforms through posters,
small (often poorly attended) gatherings, and quite extensively
through the local media and advertising. General commitments to
address broad topics, like unemployment or education, are the
closest thing to "campaign promises" being made; few have offered
specific plans for dealing with topics raised. UAE officials
persist in praising the election process, stressing the importance
of political participation, and urging Electoral College (EC)
members to vote. End summary.

Campaigning less than dramatic
--------------

2. (SBU) For 14 days, candidates have promoted themselves in various
ways (banners, posters and placards on city streets and squares,
newspaper ads of varying levels of sophistication) in an effort to
secure votes for the first limited parliamentary elections in the
country. Candidates' general platforms include promises to address
unemployment, health, education, FNC authority, women, inflation,
and the UAE's "demographic structure." Candidates are not offering
focused plans or strategies. While the UAEG continues its media
campaign to draw attention to the vote, many commentators still
publicly question the merits and qualifications of members on the
list (all 400-plus candidates having come from among the 6,000
appointed "electors"). The recent withdrawal of 17 candidates drew
attention, but may have been due to the candidates' realization of
their own low prospects of winning a seat or a belated realization
of the challenge of mounting a public campaign.


3. (U) Campaign tactics included setting up tents, holding
individual or joint press conferences, small gatherings, dinners,
erecting street banners, inserting ads in local newspapers,
launching websites, and reaching out to electors via e-mail and text
messaging. Most candidates who advertised in the press were from
the more populous emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah, but
campaign advertising has been evident on main streets and squares
even in smaller, backwater communities like Al Dheid, Khorfakkan,
and the east coast emirate of Fujeirah. Semi-official Arabic daily
"Al-Ittihad" launched a special supplement entitled "Elections '06"
that covered the last five days of campaigns. Local press reported
that orientation sessions arranged by the government were poorly
attended and that tents set up by candidates were limited in number,
raising concerns about lack of interest in the process. A survey of
800 residents (UAE national and expatriate) conducted by an official
at Dubai e-government revealed that only 24 percent know of the
upcoming FNC elections.

UAEG support for female candidates
--------------

4. (U) At the direction of Sheikha Fatima, wife of the late
President Sheikh Zayed, the newly established Family Development
Foundation offered its support to women candidates during the
campaign by opening all of its branches around the country for women
candidates to hold seminars and meetings with potential voters. The
Minister of State for FNC Affairs Anwar Gargash has stated his hope
that women will be elected in more than one emirate and told the
press that women will likely be appointed before the next FNC
session (the remaining 20 seats in the 40-seat FNC are to be
appointed by the rulers of each emirate).

Official press for participation
--------------

5. (SBU) During the December 11 cabinet meeting, Vice-President and
Prime Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid urged all EC members to
vote, saying it is their duty to participate in this process; he
promised one day of leave to facilitate voting in their respective
emirates (Abu Dhabi and Fujairah leading of on the 16th). Dr.
Gargash welcomed all local civil society organization to observe
elections. FNC Secretary General Mohammed Al-Mazrooei remarked to
Embassy officers December 14 that the FNC had historically discussed
issues like education and health care, the same issues being raised
by candidates in the current elections. He looked forward to the
evolution of a semi-elected body and suggested that younger FNC
members in particular might change the nature of the debate; he said
the median age of previous FNC membership was 50.

Mechanisms
--------------

6. (U) The National Election Commission announced the locations of
polling stations, one per emirate with 12 electronic polling
machines and one machine for electors with disabilities. Election
simulations have tested the voting machines and the UAEG anticipates
no problems.

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