RIYADH, 28 January 2005 — Governors, mayors, district chiefs and their deputies have been barred from contesting municipal elections or being nominated to municipal councils “because of their duties for the state and the nature of their jobs.”
This announcement was made by Mohammed ibn Hamid Al-Nigadi, a spokesman of the Election Commission, here yesterday, just two days before the names of the short-listed candidates are to be announced. “These officials, who are vested with powers and rights, may not be able to safeguard the interests of the prospective candidates in their respective areas, which can lead to clash of interests among the contestants and officials, if they are allowed to contest,” said Al-Nigadi.
The new measure will apply in all regions and districts.
The Riyadh region alone — the first to go to the polls — has received nomination papers from 1,948 candidates for seven seats in the 14-member council.
The new announcement barring officials from contesting the elections will affect the candidature of a number of officials working for governorate, municipality or at district level.
Al-Nigadi said the short-listed candidates would launch their election campaign tomorrow in the Riyadh region, which goes to the polls on Feb. 10.
The Election Commission has issued a 23-point code of conduct for campaigning under which promoting tribalism or regionalism, using defamatory languages or insulting opponents have been banned.
A large number of candidates who have filed nominations in the Riyadh region are persons of influence in their tribes and they are relying on the support of their tribes.
Despite an Election Commission ban on campaigning before tomorrow, many candidates have already started canvassing for votes in Riyadh. In fact, campaigning intensified in the city and its suburbs after Haj early this week.
A candidate, who preferred to remain anonymous, said candidates organize small meetings and address voters inside homes to avoid drawing attention of election officials.
A total of 140 polling stations — 73 of them in Riyadh — have been set up. The Ministry of Municipality and Rural Affairs will be the final authority to approve the locations where photos or billboards are to be used for campaigning.
Candidates have also been allowed to place advertisements in local newspapers. A total of 149,000 Saudi nationals have been registered as voters in the Riyadh region.
At the national level, the three-phase historic poll will elect 592 candidates for 178 municipal councils in the 13 regions of the Kingdom. The process will end April 21.
The Municipal and Rural Affairs Ministry has also published election rules that allow all Saudi men aged 21 or above, except military men, to take part in the voting.
