Bahrain Mirror (2022 Portfolios): While it is natural for opposition voices in Bahrain to call for protest and objection to the current situation, when pro-government voices also begin urging protests against the existing reality, it signals that the loyalist side has been affected by official policies, and discontent has reached a significant level among government supporters.

The authorities benefited from loyalists in suppressing the democratic movement in 2011 and its aftermath, generously offering them rewards and benefits. However, as the situation stabilized, their attention waned, reducing the extent of benefits. They were left in conflict with those naturalized since 2002 and thereafter, a group the loyalists themselves now call "new citizens."

The discontent among government supporters increased as the parliamentary and municipal elections of 2022 approached. In September, lawyer Abdullah Hashem called on the unemployed to start a popular protest movement, claiming their lives were being stolen for the benefit of foreign labor. However, Hashem retracted the call after being summoned by the Anti-Cyber Crimes Department.

On September 21, the Muslim Brotherhood in Bahrain officially announced that none of its members would run in the elections, despite expressing support for the parliamentary experience and the electoral process.

The political face of the Brotherhood in Bahrain, the "Islamic Minbar Society," made this announcement through its Secretary-General, Ismael Al-Imadi. No party in the world supports a parliamentary experience without desiring its members to reach parliamentary seats. However, these were orders from the Royal Court that the Brotherhood adheres to, safeguarding its gains. They decided to "bow to the storm" and wait for the green light from the Royal Court, which has not come, at least not by the end of 2022. Member of the Minbar and former MP, Mohammed Khalid, was more explicit, hinting in a video at boycotting the elections and expressing pity for those who would participate, saying, "All I can say is may God help you."

The High Elections Committee rejected the candidacy of several government supporters. Political isolation became a ruling method, applied to both the opposition and those in the loyalty camp.

As for the Salafi-affiliated Al-Asalah Society, it experienced significant turmoil. However, its position with the authorities is slightly better than that of the Brotherhood. The Royal Court allows those it chooses to run for election and objects to the candidacy of others. Thus, Abdulrazzaq Hattab, the head of its parliamentary bloc in 2018, suddenly withdrew from candidacy, while the second MP, Ali Zayed, ran independently in the Southern Governorate and failed to win.

In addition, several former MPs in the Al-Asalah bloc ran independently. Those like Ali Al-Muqla, Ibrahim Busandal ran in Muharraq, and Mohammed Buhamoud ran independently in the Northern Governorate. The three failed in the elections. In light of this, Ali Al-Muqla resigned from Al-Asalah, while Ibrahim Busandal spoke of interventions that contributed to his electoral failure. He stated that someone told him when expressing his intention to run, "They will harm you," indicating the government.

The National Unity Gathering Society succeeded in securing only one MP, representing the group that emerged from the gathering of government supporters at Al-Fateh Mosque in 2011 to support the regime.

After the elections, several loyalist candidates publicly complained about official interventions against them, leading to their loss. This included figures like Latifa Eid, Abdullah Al-Hammadi, and Ali Saeed Al-Maamari, who faced trial for expressing dissatisfaction with the election results and the actions of the oversight committee in his district.

Adel Al-Asoomi, the President of the Arab Parliament, was humiliated by being dropped from the list of candidates after the court questioned the validity of his residence. Al-Asoomi was the last figure associated with the former Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman. However, after the elections, the authorities appointed him to the Shura Council to maintain his position as the President of the Arab Parliament.

After the elections, a domestic conviction emerged among government supporters from the Sunni community that they are powerless, and their MPs follow government orders and directives rather than popular will, going against the sentiments of various currents and active forces within this community.

The news of preventing the former senior official in the Bahraini judiciary, Salem Al-Kuwari, from traveling, fearing his departure with his family to Qatar to live close to his tribe, one of the closest families to the ruling Qatari Al Thani family, confirmed the widespread uncertainty and discontent among a wide sector of the loyalists. This sector increasingly perceives the significant improvement in the living conditions of citizens in prosperous neighboring countries, while Bahrain's political and economic situation worsens, accompanied by a harsh security climate, coupled with extravagant luxury for the ruling family members.

In December, during the celebration of the National Day, when the ruling family commemorates its rule, the extent of discontent among the loyalists became evident. Only a few of them celebrated. The ruling family found itself isolated with a few closely connected tribes and, of course, the naturalized citizens. Meanwhile, the majority of citizens, both Shia and Sunni, felt marginalized and resentful, though powerless.

Arabic Version