Bahrain: First elections since conflict began

Bahrain held its first parliamentary elections since 2011 on 22 November, determined to present an image of “business as usual” despite an opposition boycott and a simmering conflict that has continued for more than three years.The polls – for the lower chamber of the parliament and also, in three of Bahrain’s recently redrawn four governorates, for the municipal councils – passed relatively smoothly, though there were some clashes between police and protesters. The minister of justice, Islamic affairs and endowments, Sheikh Khalid Bin Ali Al-Khalifa, (also chairman of the High Elections Committee) said turnout for the parliamentary vote was 51.5% (with 53.7% for the municipal vote).