Minister of State for FNC Affairs pledges to increase voter turnout

Dr Anwar Gargash told the 40-member FNC that his ministry is most active during the election period.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for FNC Affairs, says his ministry would improve efforts to explain the role of the FNC and its relevance to citizens. Silvia Razgova / The National

ABU DHABI // A minister has pledged to increase this year’s Federal National Council turnout.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for FNC Affairs and Chairman of the National Election Committee (NEC), told the 40-member council on Tuesday that his ministry was at its most active during the election period, primarily to ensure a high turnout.

However, at the last election in 2011, 28 per cent of eligible voters turned out. The turnout in 2006 was 74.4 per cent.

Dr Gargash said this year the ministry would improve its efforts to explain the role of the FNC and its relevance to citizens. Using simple language will help to bring the numbers up.

“This will be our first role for the 2015 elections,” he said. “To reach every Emirati.”

He said the ministry needed to find a way to convey a message about the FNC’s historic role and its current significance, and how the work the council does affects citizens.

“I believe this is a big challenge and hopefully we can do it,” he said.

Ahmed Al Mansouri (Dubai), the member who summoned the minister to ask about awareness of the council’s role, said he hoped turnout this year would be high.

He said he wished the ministry had a stronger presence in the media and did not rely solely on press releases.

Dr Gargash stressed that the ministry played a big role, even if it was not highlighted in the press.

He said after spending seven years regularly attending the sessions that he was aware of the hard work that went on in the council, whether in this term or the last. He added that he wished there was a way to convey this in the media to show every Emirati the significance of the FNC.

“Our plan this election is that if we want to motivate Emiratis then we need to make the FNC clear to the people,” he said.

He said the ministry was working on this plan and expending every effort “to explain the role of the FNC to the average citizen”.

Other than the elections, Dr Gargash said his ministry worked as a liaison between the council and Government ministers.

He added that since 2006, when the ministry was established, 900 Government employees have attended council sessions.

The ministry also regularly evaluates the work of the council. Reports are routinely compiled after FNC sessions and sent to all ministers.