Saudi Arabia announces decision to hold first elections

Saudi Arabia decided tonight to hold its first elections, announcing a vote to create local councils in the conservative Gulf…

Saudi Arabia decided tonight to hold its first elections, announcing a vote to create local councils in the conservative Gulf monarchy.

The step comes at a time when the Saudi royal family is under pressure to bring democratic reform.

The Saudi Cabinet said in a statement, carried by the official Saudi Press Agency, that it "has decided to expand the participation of citizens in running local affairs through elections, by empowering the roles of municipal councils."

The Cabinet did not say when elections would take place. Elections will be held in 14 municipalities throughout the country, with only half their members being elected, the statement said.

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Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy, has an unelected national advisory body known as the Shura Council, but no parliament.

Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Abdullah, ordered relevant government bodies to complete, within one year, all necessary procedures for the elections.

Political analyst Dawoud al-Sheryan praised the move, pointing out that "one year ago, just writing about elections was considered an offense." He said the elections should be free and fair elections, adding a vote should also be held for the Shura Council.

In 1975, Saudi authorities issued a law to form municipal councils, but it never happened.

Saudis cannot hold public gatherings to discuss political or social issues, while press freedoms are limited.

But the fear of domestic terrorism, which was brought home for Saudis after the May 12 suicide bombings in Riyadh, initiated an unprecedented public debate, and some of the kingdom's rulers have discussed opening the society. Critics say a lack of democratic freedoms has made the kingdom a breeding ground for extremists.

Last month, some 300 Saudi men and women signed a petition, the third this year, urging Saudi rulers to speed promised reforms to ward off the influence of extremist Islam in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia adheres to the puritan Wahhabi sect of Islam, which enforces a strict moral code.

AP