Hamad gives Crown Prince “role” in existential bid to redeem pretense of reform in Bahrain

Bahrain crown prince given political role
11 March, 2013 – by Simeon Kerr – Zawya

Bahrain’s crown prince, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has been appointed first deputy prime minister in a move that could bolster reform in the strife-torn island state.

King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa appointed his eldest son first deputy prime minister for the development of the performance of the executive authority’s bodies. He will join four other deputy prime ministers.

The reformist crown prince’s move into a frontline political role comes amid a violent crackdown on dissent led by the majority Shia community, which has been driven by hardliners within the ruling family.

Observers said the crown prince’s new position reflected a realisation that reform of government institutions will have to accompany a focus on security that has prevailed over the past couple of years.

The crown prince remains junior to his great-uncle, the 74-year-old prime minister, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa.

Premier for more than 40 years, Sheikh Khalifa personifies the status quo that pro-democracy protesters have been trying to change. But most of the large Sunni minority lauds him as a figurehead representing their interests.

The crown prince’s appointment came as dialogue limps on between the opposition, government and pro-government loyalists.

Progress in the talks, which began last month, has been slow and the parties are still negotiating the agenda.

But optimism for dialogue has been growing since Saudi Arabia, Bahrain’s strongest ally, started increasing pressure for a political solution in the island state to prevent any further spillover of unrest among the Shia of its oil-rich Eastern Province.

The killing of some protesters has caused street protests to flare, complicating the negotiations. Radical Shia youth elements reject any dialogue with the government, which they blame for repression.

Diplomats are pleased that none of the parties has quit the talks. Al-Wefaq, the main Shia opposition group, walked out of the last round of dialogue in July 2011, as it was outnumbered by loyalist groups.

The crown prince led private talks with the opposition during the height of the unrest in 2011. But the opposition failed to accept his proposals before Saudi Arabia led Gulf troops across the causeway that joins the two countries, leading to months of violent repression of pro-democracy protesters.

The crown prince has since lost the support of much of the Sunni minority, which blames him for negotiating with activists who have since been jailed on charges of trying to overthrow the government.

However, Sheikh Salman has played a behind-the-scenes role promoting reform initiatives, such as the appointment of an independent inquiry that slammed the security forces for excessive use of violence and systematic torture during the crackdown.

Sheikh Salman is expected to focus on reforming the government from within. “The crown prince now has an institutionalised role in politics,” said Doha-based political analyst Justin Gengler. …source