The party, Al Wefaq, views Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa as the government leader most able to reach out to the opposition.Western-educated, 42-year-old Prince Salman, the king’s son and heir to the throne, led talks with the opposition during last year’s protests, in which protesters called for political change and improved rights.
The talks collapsed when the government invited Saudi troops to Bahrain in March 2011 to help maintain order, sidelining the crown prince.
A further round of talks in February ended without progress. Clashes still take place regularly between police and demonstrators in Shiite villages around the capital.
“The crown prince is viewed as saviour, someone who can bring about a solution, but there is no alternative to him,” said Wefaq member Jasem Hussain. “The alternative are the hardliners.” The crown prince’s office couldn’t be reached for comment.
Al Wefaq is demanding a fully elected Parliament and independence in the judiciary, which is appointed by the king. The government says talks must include Sunni and Shiite opposition groups, while Al Wefaq rejects the inclusion of Sunni groups, saying they represent the views of the government. Al Wefaq, meanwhile, says it is willing to discuss only the timing of reforms, not the substance. “We are ready to negotiate on how to reach democracy, but we will not negotiate democracy,” said Al Wefaq member Khalil Al Marzouq.
Al Wefaq sees the crown prince as its best possible partner in the royal family. The crown prince offered concessions early last year in a bid to end the protests, and his appeal among the opposition was bolstered recently when he attended a village Shiite funeral in April.
In early May, in a sign of support, the US announced it would resume limited weapons sales to Bahrain during a visit to Washington by the crown prince, who held discussions with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other senior officials.
“We wanted to show that he could deliver,” said a senior US official briefed on the Bahrain policy.
“The crown prince is one of the remaining, one of the only leaders and members of the royal family, who can reach across sectarian lines,” said a person familiar with US policy. “Clearly he is an incredibly important figure and he continues to have tremendous appeal.”
