Global Arab Network | Saudi elections postponed for 2 years

Translate this article to your language:

GANPublications

e-Publications

Add Site to Favorites

Add Page to Favorites

Make Homepage

Share This Page

RSS Feed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |

Saudi elections postponed for 2 years

The Saudi official news agency says municipal elections will be postponed for two years in order to expand the electorate and study possibility of allowing women to vote. Saudi Information Minister Abdel Aziz Khoja says that the elections, which were scheduled for Oct. 31, will be held in 2011 so authorities can increase the number of citizens eligible to vote.

"The membership in current local councils will continue for another two years" reported SPA, the state news agency, after a weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

More time was needed to study "expanding the participation of citizens in running local affairs".

Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, is an absolute monarchy without political parties.

The kingdom held municipial elections in 2005 which were the country's first nationwide polls since its foundation in 1932.

Women were barred from voting or standing for office, but officials said then that they would be allowed to stand in the next vote, which had been expected this year.

The election for half the seats on the councils was part of a series of reforms undertaken after the September 11 attacks of 2001 focused international attention on Saudi Arabia.

Most of the hijackers involved in the attacks were Saudi, acting in the name of the group al-Qaeda.

King Abdullah ascended the throne in 2005 promising a programme of cautious reforms.

Analysts and diplomats say he faces stiff opposition from senior members of the royal family as well as a powerful religious establishment fearing loss of influence.

Last week, a group of Saudi human rights and opposition activists sent a petition to Abdullah demanding political and judicial reforms, including holding elections.

Prince Nayif was quoted by the a local newspaperas saying that appointing the members of the Shoura Council meant that the best people were always selected, and if it were to happen through elections then the members would not have been as competent as they were. Members of the council, which has a strictly advisory role, are all appointed by the king.

Asked about the inclusion of women, Prince Nayif said he saw no need.

Later that month, Nayef was appointed as second deputy prime minister, which means he will run the country when Abdullah and crown prince are away. (AP, AFP, Media Line, Saudi Gazette)

Global Arab Network

Add comment

The opinions of the authors in articles published are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Arab Network
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published comments are the opinions of private individuals and do not reflect the views of Global Arab Network