Saudi King Grants New Powers to 'Parliament'

[Khephra]

Saudi King Grants New Powers to 'Parliament'
By REUTERS

Published: November 30, 2003


Filed at 6:32 a.m. ET

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's King Fahd has granted a greater legislative role to the kingdom's consultative Shura council as the absolute monarchy cautiously presses ahead with political reforms called for by Saudi and Western critics. A royal decree issued late on Saturday effectively shifted influence from the cabinet to Shura members -- an unelected ``parliament'' whose members are hand-picked by the king. It also made it easier for the council to propose new laws.

more..........

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-saudi-reforms.html

[some1noo]

1. what's next?

a Magna Charta?

[newyawker99]

5. Hi some1noo!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DavidDvorkin]

2. Wow! These are wonderful reforms!

The king granted new powers to a parliament whose members are hand picked by the king!

Clearly, they are trembling on the verge of democracy. Rather a wide verge, though. Or possibly a chasm.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. What a joke

Do the Sauds think anybody should be happy because the fascist royal family has established a show parliament?

The latest changes allow the Shura council to propose new laws or amendments without seeking permission first from the monarch. They also mean that when cabinet and Shura disagree on an issue, the cabinet will refer it back to the Shura for comment rather than send it straight to the king to decide.

Who cares? The Shura, like the cabinet, is responsible to the King, not the people.

There's going to be a day of reckoning for the Sauds sooner or later -- just as there was for the Bourbons and the Romanovs.

[pfitz59]

4. House of Saud = House of Fraud!

"Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" is as much historical fiction as the "Nation of Iraq". It was slapped together after WW I by US and UK to protect newly dicovered oil fields. Ibn Saud, armed with modern weapons was able to conquer flint-lock armed bedouins! The 'monarchy' is barely 3 generations old! The King of Jordan has a stronger historical claim to rule Arabia than any Saudi!

[DeathvadeR]

6. oooo snaps...................................... n/t