1744 Kurum Ash-Sharqia general election
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The 1744 general election was held in Kurum Ash-Sharqia to elect the 13th session of Al-Majlis Al-Watani. The election was held on the 2nd day of 1744 AN. 100 seats in Al-Majlis Al-Watani were up for election.
The backdrop to these elections was the so-called Royal Conundrum. Following the 1740 session of the Crown Council, which convened to approve Crown Prince Noor Ad-Din's proposed marriage to Valdemar Al-Aziz, it emerged that Grand Vizier Bilal Gharbi had advised postponing the meeting. Gharbi anticipated significant political unrest stemming from the union, which many viewed as controversial. Widespread protests erupted, with demonstrators demanding his resignation. Nevertheless, Gharbi stood firm, believing that his continued leadership would help stabilize the political climate in the lead-up to the 1744 general election.
The election results, however, told a different story. Gharbi's Socialist Platform suffered a major setback, losing 27 seats. The radical Ulema Party (UP) and the Secular Alliance emerged as the principal victors. This shift reflected deepening polarization between radical and conservative Muslim factions, many of whom rallied behind the UP, and those who believed religion should not play a role in governance. Even the more centrist Islamic People's Party (IPP) lost ground to the UP.
The Secular Alliance campaigned on a bold platform asserting that the Sultan's office is secular by nature, and that the Sultan’s sexual orientation should not be a matter of political concern. Their message resonated with voters seeking to separate religious doctrine from state affairs, further polarising politics.
The death of Rachid Khan and the succession of his sister as party leader, may have also added to the success of the Secular Alliance.
After the elections, a coalition government was formed between the Secular Alliance and the Islamic People's Party. The IPP supported the idea that the Sultan's office in secular in nature, but refuses to support the removal of other religious references in the constitution.
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