Woman elected head after hours of House drama

The newly-elected members of the parliament yesterday elected lawmaker Fawzia Zainal as the House chairwoman after an intense drama which exhibited many lawmakers criticising each other as well as the process of selection.

MP Adel Al Asoomi, one of the contenders for the top House post, was the first to criticise the electoral process. He said the ballot box was kept in such a way that MPs could make out as to who was voting for whom.

Suggesting a secret ballot method to elect the House head, he said the process violated electoral laws. MP Isa Al Kooheji, another contender for the post, said the head of the session Yousef Zainal was behaving in an undemocratic manner.