JEDDAH, 9 September 2004 — Preparations are in full swing for the nationwide municipal elections scheduled to start in November.
Municipal and Rural Affairs Minister Prince Miteb yesterday set up a local election committee for the Riyadh region, which goes to the polls in the first of a three-phase electoral exercise.
The nine-member local committee, chaired by Riyadh Mayor Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Muqrin, is to make proposals on constituencies, identify polling booths, supervise election campaigns, recommend members of subsidiary panels and follow up the election process.
The committee’s members are: Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Asheikh, Ahmad Al-Tuwaijeri, Dr. Abdullah Al-Moaili, Fahd Al-Obaikan, Dr. Saud Al-Namir, Suleiman Al-Qannas, Abdullah Al-Subail and Dr. Abdul Kareem Al-Harbi.
The local committee will report to the recently appointed general election committee, which is chaired by Prince Mansour ibn Miteb. The elections will be held in three phases to pick half the members of 178 municipal councils in the Kingdom’s 13 regions.
“This general committee, which has nine members, will supervise other specialized panels and address all problems facing the election process,” said Prince Miteb.
“It is authorized to take all necessary measures to ensure the success of the elections such as setting out of executive plans, preparation of schedules and guidelines and organization of training programs, etc.,” the minister said.
The Municipal and Rural Affairs Ministry has already published the election rules and regulations, which allow all Saudis aged 21 or above, except military men, to take part in the voting.
The Eastern Province as well as the Asir, Baha, Jizan and Najran regions will go to the polls before the Haj season. Elections in Makkah, Madinah, Qassim, Al-Jouf, the Northern Border Region, Tabuk and Hail will be held after the Haj season in the last phase.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Society for Public Administration plans to hold a scientific meet in Riyadh on Sept. 25 on “Management of Municipal Councils: Prospects and Challenges.” The meeting will also focus on the role of women in municipal councils. Lulwa Al-Awadhi, secretary-general of the Supreme Women’s Council in Bahrain, as well as other experts from within and outside the Kingdom, will address the conference.
