Brussels, 26/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 25 September, the European Union welcomed the announcement of King Hamad of Bahrain regarding the holding of parliamentary elections in his country on 22 November.
“We (…) express our hope that all political actors representing the diversity of Bahraini society will participate in the electoral process”, said the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.
“The European Union considers that credible and inclusive elections can represent one important element for the advancement of genuine national dialogue and reconciliation, thus promoting the necessary sustainable reforms in a spirit of shared responsibility in the interest of all Bahrainis”, Ashton's spokesperson added.
The president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, Nabeel Rajab, stated on 24 September that Bahrain should first go through a process of reconciliation and confidence-building before the elections, when “half the opposition that launched the movement [calling for more democracy] is in prison” (see EUROPE 11163). People in Bahrain have been challenging the government since 2011. (CG)