Oman goes to polls for a Majlis that could be more assertive

Critics have plenty of ammunition when they complain that Oman’s 85-member Majlis Al-Shura (Consultative Council) lacks teeth and is incapable of driving efforts to stimulate economic growth and jobs. Despite having a mandate to do more to represent the popular will, after four years, the outgoing Majlis failed to propose new legislation or question any minister, let alone force a vote of confidence that its strengthened prerogative would allow – even in a still highly centralised polity.