Prince Dr Mansour bin Miteb bin Abdul Aziz, Chairman of the General Committee for Municipal Elections announced that, following the completion of preparations for forthcoming municipal elections, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Prince Miteb bin Abdul Aziz approved the election timetable.
At a press conference held in Riyadh today, Prince Mansour announced that the dates for elections are as follows: first stage - in Riyadh on Thursday 1 Muharram 1426H; second stage - in the Eastern Region, Asir, Jazan, Najran and Baha on Thursday 22 Muharram 1426 H; third stage - in Makkah Region, Madinah, Qasim, Tabuk, Hail, Al-Jouf and the Northern Borders on Thursday 12 Rabie Al-Awwal 1426H.
The timetable also establishes dates for the registration of voters and candidates.
In a statement to the press, Prince Dr Mansour said that, within the framework of reform in the era of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, the King announced the broadening of popular participation in government. The regulation for municipalities and villages is the legal basis for organisation of the municipal elections. The regulation states the necessary principles for formation and management of the councils; members’ rights and duties; and council-municipality relations.
To establish the mechanisms for implementation of the electoral process, contracts were signed with advisory teams such as the German Foundation for Technical Cooperation, Al-Assaf Lawyers and Consultants and the United Nations Organization Team, Dr Mansour said.
Dr Mansour said that a campaign is to commence next week to promote awareness of the electoral process and the significance of voting.
Dr Mansour then answered questions to the press. On the question of whether women will be permitted to participate in the municipal elections, he said that regulations for municipalities and villages and the election of municipal councils do not preclude the participation of women. The logistics of organising elections within the requested timeframe, however, will make difficult the registration and participation of female voters for the Kingdom’s 178 councils.
Answering a question on the possibility of foreign observers taking part in the elections, he said that foreign observers are not requested to participate in the majority of local elections worldwide, which depend upon local observers. He added that an electoral education campaign will commence next week, and there will be a Centre for Municipal Elections and Information opened at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs. Acting Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Dr Mutlab Al-Nafeesah has issued instructions for an electoral advertising campaign.
Source: SPA
