Avid Saudis Prepare for Landmark Municipal Election

By Fawaz Mohammad, IOL Correspondent

RIYADH, November 28 (IslamOnline.net) - Saudis are demonstrating great enthusiasm for the kingdom’s first municipal election in 40 years, to kick off on February 10.

Rather unfamiliar with the process, citizens avidly came in droves to register as voters at 140 polling stations set up at schools, universities and sports clubs.

First-time candidates have eagerly enrolled in courses on election campaigns, bracing themselves for apparently cut-throat competitions.

Print houses have been working at full swing to cope with election advertisements and candidates’ platforms.

Scholars, for their part, encouraged the public to register, saying it was their Islamic and civic duty to cast their ballots.

The nationwide vote will be held in three phases to elect half the members of 178 municipal councils. The other half will be appointed by the government.

The first round of voter registration started in Riyadh on November 23 and runs through December 22.

The second round is due to kick off in the eastern parts of the kingdom on December 14 till the first of January.

The last round will start in western provinces like Makkah and Madinah on February 15 till March 16.

The kingdom announced last October that it planned to hold the election, drawing mixed reactions.

Training Courses

Candidates have resorted to neighboring countries like Bahrain and Kuwait to make use of their past experiences.

The election has also helped some Saudis to start up a lucrative business.

A media organization has announced registration for training courses on election propaganda in countries like Egypt, Lebanon and Tunisia for mind-boggling 500-600 thousand Saudi rials ($133,000-160,000).

The course trains candidates in public relations skills, media and press languages and how to draw up a to-the-point platform.

The study mission also includes meetings with chairpersons of municipal councils in the target country and workshops to get hands-on experience.

Propagandists predict that every candidate will spend more than one million rials ($260,000) on his campaign.

Large Turnout

Riyadh has seen a large turnout as some 16,000 people have registered at polling stations in just two days, according to one municipal official.

The vote has been also the talk of Saudi intelligentsia with many seminars being held on the importance of enhancing political participation.

The Saudi press has been also keen on familiarizing the public how to vote through illustrative samples.

The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs has also launched a website containing thorough information on the election.

Saudi women will not be allowed to vote this time due to time constraints, according to the website.

However, some 2,750 Saudi businesswomen are preparing to cast their votes at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry Monday, November 29, to elect board members.

The Third National Dialogue Forum called on Monday, June 14, for drawing a line between traditions and the Islamic tenets regarding women's rights.

Breaking taboo and tumultuous women’s issues, the forum concluded that a right balance should be struck between Shari`ah and everyday life in a way that does not contravene society ethics or Islam’s baselines.