The Bahraini government has drafted an election law in preparation for legislative polls expected to take place on October 24, a cabinet minister was quoted as saying Tuesday.
The draft law bans political associations and syndicates from backing or bankrolling candidates, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Ibrahim al-Mutawa told newspapers, according to AFP.
Seven political movements -- Islamist, Arab nationalist and liberal -- operate as associations in Bahrain, where political parties remain banned.
Bahrain’s King Hamad is expected to approve the draft electoral law next week, newspapers said. Islamists came out on top in landmark local elections last month that were seen as a dress rehearsal for legislative polls to restore the parliament scrapped in 1975. (Albawaba.com)
