Qatar Risk Management Report: Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain withdraw ambassadors
Risk Management Reports
Issue 965
- 06 Mar 2014
| 1 minute read
The Al-Thani family has ruled Qatar since the mid-19th century, its
power entrenched at the end of the Ottoman Empire with British recognition of its right to govern. Full independence was declared in 1971 and, officially, Qatar is slowly moving towards democracy. Elections have been held since 1999 for a Central Municipal Council, though voter turnout has halved to around 40%, reflecting disillusionment. The 2003 constitution also approved plans for a 45-member parliament, two thirds elected, but has yet to be implemented. In the last two decades, Qatar gained hugely in power and confidence, led by the ambitious partnership of former emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani (who overthrew his father in 1996) and his prime minister and foreign minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Al-Thani (HBJ).
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