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King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has extended the legislative term of the Shura Council and Parliament by one year via Royal Order No. (13) of 2026, citing necessity under the current circumstances and their effects. The order, issued in April 2026, adds a fifth session starting December 12 and is permitted under the constitution for exceptional situations, News of Bahrain reported.
The royal order specifies that both the Shura Council and the Council of Representatives will have their sixth legislative term extended for this additional session. According to the Council of Representatives website, normal legislative terms span four years and include four annual sessions. In cases of necessity, the constitution authorizes the monarch to extend the term by royal order for a maximum of two years. This latest extension falls within those parameters to address prevailing conditions.
Bahrain operates a bicameral legislature under the 2002 constitution with the appointed Shura Council complementing the elected Council of Representatives. IPU Parline records confirm that the terms of both bodies were extended by one year effective December 12, 2026. The National Assembly handles key functions including legislation, budget approval and government accountability. This structure has been in place for over two decades with periodic royal interventions to adjust timelines.
News of Bahrain reported the king’s decision on April 30, 2026, highlighting the citation of necessity under the current circumstances and their effects as the rationale. The phrasing mirrors language used in the official royal order distributed through government channels. No further elaboration on the specific circumstances was provided in the announcement. Similar orders have been issued in the past during transitional periods.
In early May, His Majesty issued a follow-up Order No. (14) of 2026 proroguing the fourth session of the sixth term, according to GDNonline. This step formally concludes the ongoing session before the extended fifth one begins. It allows for preparation and alignment of parliamentary activities with the new timeline. Parliamentary sessions typically address national priorities including economic development and social policies.
The Shura Council maintained an active schedule earlier in 2026 with multiple sessions documented in March covering various agendas, its official website showed. Such continuity illustrates the practical impact of the extension on legislative operations. The Council, consisting of 40 appointed members, plays a consultative role in Bahrain’s governance framework. The extension helps sustain work on pending initiatives.
The National Assembly was reinstated in 2002 under the country’s constitution, establishing the current bicameral system. Legislative terms have generally followed the four-year standard since then with occasional extensions by royal order. The current measure for the sixth term follows this established practice, according to data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
