Saudi Arabia's announcement that landmark municipal polls would start in November was welcomed by reformists Thursday as an overdue step towards political participation, though one voiced concern that "lack of preparation" might force a delay.
"I am worried that elections might be postponed," Abdullah Faraj al-Sharif, a writer and researcher, told AFP.
The official SPA news agency said late Wednesday that the first nation-wide polls in the kingdom to elect half the members of 178 municipal councils would be held in three stages from November into early 2005.
"We have only three months left. Is this period enough to introduce the required regulations and create sufficient awareness among the people?", Sharif wondered.
The government has said it will launch a campaign to raise awareness before the elections, while rules have already been approved and will be publicised soon.
"A media campaign to promote awareness of election (processes) will take place during the months of September and October," SPA said.
Municipal and Rural Affairs Minister Prince Mutab bin Abdul Aziz has approved the rules that will govern the polls and these will be made public "soon", the news agency added.
"There is a feeling of satisfaction, no doubt. But in fact, this concept (elections) has been delayed for many years," reformist businessman Sheikh Jamil Faresi told AFP.
"In my area, the holy city of Mecca, the municipal council used to be fully elected 25 years ago," he said. Half the members of the new municipal councils will be named by the government.
"Partial elections are better than appointment of all members. We hope this will lead to full elections in the next few years," Faresi said. Sharif thought the government would remain largely in control of local councils.
"The 50-50 division tips the balance in the government's favour," Sharif said, pointing out that the mayor will have a casting vote. But Sharif said that although the planned ballot "does not fulfill our demands for reform, it is the first step on a very long road ... which will eventually lead to electing members of the Shura (Consultative) Council."
Faresi also hoped to see "a fully elected parliament" in the future.
The 120 members of the Shura Council are appointed by King Fahd.
Saudi officials have worked with UN experts invited to the kingdom on preparations for the ballot and its timetable, SPA said.
Women are not expected to be given the vote, although some women rights' activists remain optimistic.
"The rules have not been made public yet ... So we are still hoping to participate," journalist Nahed Bashateh told AFP.
Male reformists also support women's participation in the upcoming ballot.
"Those who claim there is a (religious) text (banning women from participating) should reveal it," Faresi said.
Saudi leaders promised last October to organise the elections within a year, but the plan had been put in doubt by a campaign of violence by suspected al Qaeda sympathisers.
Reform plans were also marred by the arrest in mid-March of about a dozen reformists, three of whom remain in detention and are expected to go on trial next week.
The anticipated ballot is part of a drive to introduce limited reforms in the conservative Muslim kingdom, which Riyadh insists must be tailored to Saudi specifications and not necessarily follow a Western pattern.
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