Foreigners not needed: Saudis can manage civic vote

RIYADH: Saudi nationals are capable of managing the forthcoming municipal elections and there is no need to rope in foreign experts, says the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
“Around 35,000 Saudis from various sectors have been trained in conducting the elections and they can be comfortably relied upon,” Jadeea Al-Qahtani, director of the department of municipal councils at the ministry, was quoted by local media as saying.
A total of 16,000 Saudis efficiently did the poll-related duties and ensured great success in the last elections, he said.
“We needed a few foreign experts during the first round of elections, but did not need them during the second round and will not need them this time around,” Al-Qahtani said.
A total of 120 Saudi men and women have been trained across the Kingdom to support and train organizers, coordinators, media professionals, lawyers and other participants, he said.
On the expected number of participations in the upcoming elections, Al-Qahtani said: “It cannot be predicted, but the ministry is conducting several studies on this.”
He said the election will be a new experience in the Kingdom and everybody is excited about it.
Al-Qahtani said the Kingdom has 285 councils and 1,236 centers, which is more than what many other countries have, in view of the density of population.