The Council of Oman (parliament) is to be given legislative and audit powers as part of the package of concessions aimed at calming protests in March. The council consists of the Majlis al-Dawla (State Council), the members of which are all appointed, and the elected Majlis al-Shura (Consultation Council). The Majlis al-Shura's lack of power has been one of the main complaints of the protesters; indeed the parliament building near Muscat International Airport quickly became one of the focal points for demonstrations in the capital. The change requires an amendment to the country's Basic Law. A draft amendment outlining the change will be drawn up by a committee and presented to the sultan by mid-April. It remains to be seen how significant the Council of Oman's new powers are, and how the power is allocated between the elected and appointed councils.

The influence of the Majlis al-Shura had already received a boost earlier in March when seven serving or past members were appointed to senior government posts in a major government reshuffle. Preparations are under way for an election for the Majlis al-Shura, which is due to take place in October 2011. Nominations for potential candidates took place in late January and early February. If the recent royal decree is perceived to have handed genuine power to the elected council, this could energise the upcoming election.

Over the past 30 years of his 40-year reign the sultan has slowly, but surely, been taking steps to increase public participation in the political system. In 1981 he created the State Consultative Council, whose members were appointed by sheikhs and dignitaries. In 1991 this was replaced by an elected body, the Majlis al-Shura, the first of its kind in the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council. The Majlis al-Shura is now an 83-member body for which all Omani citizens over the age of 19 may vote. Women have stood as candidates since 1994. As well as broadening the candidacy and eligibility to vote criteria, the government has gradually widened the range of matters on which the council is consulted, to include, most recently, the revision of draft laws and the drafting of the state general budget and the five-year development plans. Although there has been undoubted progress, a common theme of the recent demonstrations has been widespread hunger for more power to be devolved to the people, albeit coupled with unwavering support for the sultan. The public are increasingly aware that the sultan, at 70 years of age, may not be on the throne for many more years, and uncertainty caused by the lack of a named successor is mounting. The events of March 2011 could well turn out to have given the process a timely nudge in the right direction.