Politics of Yemen
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Politics of Yemen takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Yemen is both head of state and head of government. Although it is notionally a pluriform multi-party system, in reality it is completely dominated by one party, the General People's Congress, and has been since unification. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The Judiciary is theoretically independent but in reality it is prone to interference from the executive branch. Yemen is a republic with a bicameral legislature. Under the constitution, an elected president, an elected 301-seat House of Representatives, and an appointed 111-member Shura Council share power. The president is head of state, and the prime minister is head of government. The constitution provides that the president be elected by popular vote from at least two candidates endorsed by Parliament; the prime minister is appointed by the president. The presidential term of office is 7 years, and the parliamentary term of elected office is 6 years. Suffrage is universal over 18.
Recently Mr Ali Saif Hassan a member of the Political Development Forum ([1])in Yemen spoke in the "Dissent and Reform in the Arab World" that was hosted by the AEI (American Enterprise Institute).
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[edit] Executive branch
The President is elected by direct, popular vote for a seven-year term. The vice-president, prime minister and deputy prime ministers are appointed by the President. The Council of Ministers is appointed by the President on the advice of the prime minister. President Ali Abdullah Saleh was elected in 1999; the next presidential elections are scheduled for 2006 in which President Saleh has stated that he does not intend to run, although a survey indicates that 86% of the population still wants him to.
| Main office holders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Name | Party | Since |
| President | Ali Abdullah Saleh | General People's Congress | 22 May 1990 |
| Vice-president | Abd al-Rab Mansur al-Hadi | 3 October 1994 | |
| Prime Minister | Abdul Qadir Bajamal | General People's Congress | 31 March 2001 |
[edit] Legislative branch
The Assembly of Representatives (Majlis al-Nuwaab) has 301 members, elected for a six year term in single-seat constituencies. In May 1997, the president created a consultative council, sometimes referred to as the upper house of Parliament; its 59 members are all appointed by the president.
[edit] Political parties and elections
- The following election results include names of political parties. See for additional information about parties the List of political parties in Yemen. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Yemen.
| Candidates - Nominating parties | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Ali Abdullah Saleh - General People's Congress | 96.3 | |
| Najeeb Qahtan Al-Sha'abi | 3.7 | |
| Total (turnout %) | 100.0 | |
| Source: SABA News | ||
| Parties | Votes | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| General People's Congress (al-Mu'tammar al-Sha'bi al-'Am) | 3,429,888 | 58.0 | 238 |
| Yemeni Congregation for Reform (al-Tajmu al-Yamani li al-Islah) | 1,333,394 | 22.6 | 46 |
| Yemen Socialist Party (Hizb al-Ishtirakiya al-Yamaniya) | 277,223 | 3.8 | 8 |
| Nasserite Unionist People's Organisation (al-Tantheem al-Wahdawi al-Sha'bi al-Nasseri) | 109,480 | 1.9 | 3 |
| Arab Socialist Rebirth Party (Hizb al Baath al'Arabi al Ishtiraki) | 40,377 | 0.7 | 2 |
| Non-partisans | - | . | 4 |
| Total (turnout 76.0%) | 5,912,302 | 100.0 | 301 |
| Source: electionguide.org. A number of candidates elected as non-partisans joined MSA or Islah. Other sources give a different division of seats. | |||
In April 2003 parliamentary elections, the General People's Congress (GPC) maintained an absolute majority. International observers described the elections as "another significant step forward on Yemen’s path toward democracy; however, sustained and forceful efforts must be undertaken to remedy critical flaws in the country’s election and political processes."[1] There were some problems with underage voting, confiscation of ballot boxes, voter intimidation, and election-related violence; moreover, the political opposition in Yemen has little access to the media, since most outlets are owned or otherwise controlled by the government.
[edit] Judicial branch
The constitution calls for an independent judiciary. The former northern and southern legal codes have been unified. The legal system includes separate commercial courts and a Supreme Court based in Sanaá. Since the country is an Islamic Theocracy, the Islamic holy book, the Koran, is the basis for all laws, and no law may contradict the Koran. Indeed many court cases are debated by the religious basis of the laws i.e. by interpretations of the Koran. For this reason, many Judges are religious scholars as well as legal authorities.
[edit] Administrative divisions
Yemen is divided in 17 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan, Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, 'Ataq, Dhamar, Hadhramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah, San'a', Ta'izz. There may be four new governorates - the capital city of Sanaa, Amran, Dala'a, Raimah.
[edit] International organization participation
ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) Riymah is also Added
[edit] References
- ^ PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OF THE NDI INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVER DELEGATION TO YEMEN’S APRIL 27 LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS
