RIYADH: Head of the Executive Committee for the Municipal Council Elections Judeea Al-Qahtani has called on the male and female candidates not to use the national flag or its images in their media advertising or billboard displays for electioneering purposes.

He called on them to strictly adhere to the election campaign regulations and participate in the election process through healthy competition.

He warned against using slogans and offensive speeches that create sectarianism and regionalism.

A number of male and female contenders are said to have criticized those indulging in unhealthy practices in campaigning for their candidature in the local municipal elections. Some PR companies are also said to be cashing in on the electioneering frenzy by doubling their service charges.

Al-Qahtani said only those licensed by the authorities ought to initiate election campaigns. Also, he added, candidates must not start their campaigns before the announcement of the approved lists, which is Nov. 29.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs said in a statement on Friday that only 54 percent of the 3,965 applicants will be contesting the election. The original number of applicants was 7,380, including 1,019 women. However only 3415, or 46 percent only applied for a license for electioneering up till now.

Many candidates expressed surprise when their attention was drawn to the law that prevents use of the national flag. “The national flag is a source of pride for all Saudis and that it is the right of all Saudis to use it in their campaign material,” one of them said.

Al Qahtani said 23 wrongful practices have been identified. Such practices should not be used at all, he added.

He reiterated that candidates must respect the approved election lists and maintain public order, values of Saudi society and implement their campaigns with decorum. He added all candidates will be given the same opportunities in their advertising campaigns.

A candidate in the capital criticized the three advertising campaigns that were given the right to rent advertising boards in Riyadh, stressing that companies use candidates with the knowledge of the election committees.

Women candidates who preferred to remain anonymous said that the decision to link final candidate lists with the date of election campaigns is unjustified and comes in the way of electioneering, and causes huge financial losses.

Some candidates expressed their surprise over the decision to delay candidates’ lists until the date of the launch of the campaign saying it is unjustified.

Prohibited are seditious speeches and divisive slogans, unlicensed campaigns, images and symbols against religion and morals, abuse of candidates and voters, prejudices, use of official state symbols and national flag, and use of TV channels.

The language used in electioneering should be only Arabic.