MANAMA - A total of 207 candidates are competing for 39 seats in BahrainÂ’s parliament in elections being held on November 25, the executive director for the polls, Wael Buallai, said in a statement on Thursday. Female candidate Latifa Al Qouhoud has automatically won the 40th seat to become the first Bahraini woman to enter parliament. No one is standing against her in her constituency.Eighteen other women are among the remaining 207 hopefuls. Thirteen candidates pulled out of the race before the deadline to do so expired on Tuesday, Buallai said.
Bahrainis will also elect five municipal councils for the five provinces of the Gulf archipelago on November 25, picking 40 members from among 171 candidates.