They should have financial and administrative independence in addition to the authority to determine the priorities of projects and funding.
As part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque King Abdullah’s reform efforts, Saudis are about to elect members to 258 municipal councils in the Kingdom wide for a second time. The first municipal polls were held four decades ago. Elections were held again for the first time in 2005 covering 179 municipal councils. Members to the other half were nominated by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
There were apparently differences of opinion about people’s representation and participation in the municipal councils during the election of 2005. In relation to this, I have hand-delivered to King Abdullah a study for setting up a higher commission for elections. The study was published at Taba Al Ula book. A website — www.saudielection.com — has been launched to promote election activities. Volunteers came forward to monitor the municipal election. I chose to volunteer as poll watcher at some extremely sensitive municipalities such as the Al-Naseem neighborhood in Riyadh and in Hafr Al-Bateen which have citizens of varying tribal affiliations.
The obstacles and challenges in holding the municipal elections in the Kingdom were many and tough. An earlier statement published in Al Madinah newspaper in 2004 by Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, deputy chief of National Guard for Military Affairs shows the size of the complexities. “By Allah the Great, the Crown Prince (presently King Abdullah) told me: where are the people? We pay great attention to municipal councils and municipal elections, but until this day I do not see anything happening.” Prince Miteb continued: “The Crown Prince asked why? It seems that there are people who want to abandon the matter.” We must hold executors accountable, if they do not have any real reason for delaying the municipal elections until now, the prince added.
Despite the obstacles, the officials of the municipal councils have considered the challenges and set up studies including the mayor’s office and other departments and bodies for services. The councils have also been instrumental in bridging the gap between citizens and various service departments. The second municipal election is scheduled for Sept. 22, 2011 while the period between April 22 to May 19, 2011 has been set for voters’ registration. Registration of candidates will take place from May 28 to June 2, 2011.
There is no likelihood of women’s participation in this municipal election as indicated by many sources. As part of the new election rules, a voter will have to vote for one candidate. That is a voter will cast vote only for a single candidate representing the constituency where he is registered. On the other hand, in the last election a voter had to vote for as many candidates as the number of councilors to be elected to a council.
There are political upheavals in our neighborhood and the only way to defend ourselves against them and consequent chaos, looting and wickedness, is to allow greater participation of the people in the administration. That is why municipal councils need more powers and sufficient budget allocations.
The Arab countries, particularly the Gulf states, should strengthen themselves internally with broadened popular participation without losing any more time. They need to read history to have an idea of their future. They should also be aware that the tribal societies generally do not make protest marches or sit-ins which could be organized only with broad alliances. Instead, they wait for an opportunity to seize the city for plundering.
In short , the people in the Arab world are waiting for the dawn of a civilian state with an Islamic constitution guaranteeing them an honorable existence. I ask the responsible officials in the Kingdom to support King Abdullah in his call to bring reforms and strive for the management of change.
—Turki Faisal Al Rasheed is the founder of Saudi Voters Center. **He can be contacted at: **tfrasheed@saudielection.com