Bahrain: Opposition confirms election boycott

Bahrain’s main political opposition groups had already said they might boycott upcoming elections but, on 11 October, they confirmed they would not participate in either the parliamentary or municipal polls due to take place on 22 November. Four opposition groups – Al-Wefaq, Waad, Al-Qawmi and Ekhaa – said that “a lack of positive movements from the authorities” had rendered their decision “unavoidable”. “What is clear is that an electoral process cannot be a substitute for dialogue,” Al-Wefaq said in a document outlining its position.