JEDDAH, 12 November 2004 — A new 10-member municipal council will be established in the eastern city of Qatif, the Saudi Press Agency reported quoting Municipal and Rural Affairs Minister Prince Miteb. Half the members of the new council would be elected.

The decision, according to Prince Miteb, was taken as part of the government’s move to widen popular participation in the decision-making process. The Kingdom is set to hold nationwide municipal elections beginning from Feb. 10.

“The Qatif Municipal Council will cover areas such as Seyhat, Ank, Qadeeh, Taroot and Safwa,” the minister said.

The move came after reports that plans were under way to increase the number of regions in the Kingdom from 13 to 18 and to give more powers to regional governors as part of administrative reforms.

The plan will divide the greater Riyadh region into three regions — Riyadh, Sudair and Dawadmi; two more regions will be formed in the Northern Province and one new region in the Southern Province. The northern border city of Gurayat is likely to become a new region.

Prince Miteb has already set up a committee to supervise elections in the Eastern Province, where polls will be held in the second phase on March 3. The committee is chaired by Dammam Mayor Ibrahim Al-Ghaneim.

Prince Mansour ibn Miteb, chairman of the general election committee, called upon members of municipal councils, local committees and media center to participate in a nationwide campaign to enhance public awareness about the polls.

The call comes after an Internet poll conducted by Okaz showed that many Saudis don’t plan to vote in the elections as they are skeptical about the role of the councils.

According to the poll, 56 percent of the 554 poll participants said they would not vote while 34 percent said they would. The poll found that 70 percent of the Saudis surveyed are ready to vote while five percent said they are eager to be candidates.

Prince Mansour said independent observers would be invited to monitor the elections to ensure transparency. Muhammad ibn Hamid Al-Naqadi, undersecretary for planning and programs at the ministry, has been appointed election spokesman.

Saudi Arabia’s first-ever municipal elections will be conducted in three phases. Half of the members of the 178 municipal councils in the Kingdom’s 13 regions will be selected through polls, with the rest nominated.