The first elections campaign in the history of Saudi Arabia launched
Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/31/2005

The campaign for the first municipal elections in the history of Saudi Arabia was launched on Sunday. Its first phase will be held in Riyadh and its quarters on February 10th.

On the front pages of the Saudi dailies, advertising campaigning for the candidates of half number of the 38 municipal councils seats in the Saudi capital and its area, while the other half will be appointed by the authorities.

The total number of nominees for the elections is 1818 and their number in Riyadh is 646 competing on seven seats representing seven separate election departments.

The candidates have the right to campaign for themselves in the press and to hold campaigning offices in special places but they do not have the right to campaign through the TV and the radio nor to hold campaigning offices in public buildings, mosques and embassies.

The municipal elections will be held in various parts of the kingdom in three phases and will end on April 21 during which half members of the municipal councils will be elected in the 13 governorates while other seats will be occupied by appointed members.

While the law bans women from taking part in the voting process, senior diplomats and princes in the royal family expected the Saudi woman to win her right to vote in the future.

The Saudi ambassador in London Prince Turkey al-Faisal said that countries like the USA and France and others have waited long time before giving men the right to vote and later to give this right to women..

He added that the situation in Saudi Arabia might be better because we will give this right to women after a short time in the first elections taking place in the country.

Previous Stories:
  King Fahd removes chairman of the intelligence department from his post   (1/27/2005)
  Saudi Arabia hosts a conference for fighting terrorism next month   (1/24/2005)
  King Fahd calls on Muslims to give up terrorism   (1/21/2005)
  Saudi women ask for half seats of the municipal councils   (1/5/2005)
  Saudi Arabia to permit prisoners to vote, ban women   (11/23/2004)
  Al-Faisal calls for more forces in Iraq   (10/29/2004)

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