The main website for Saudi Municipal Elections (saudielection.com) will have an exclusive interview with HRH Prince Mansour Bin Miteb Bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of the General Committee for Municipal Elections starting December 04, 2004 (Saturday) for 10 days until December 14, 2004 (Tuesday).
Prince Mansour will be personally answering all questions related to the municipal elections from the registered SE Forum members as well as from the saudielection.com team. All answers will be published on the December 15, 2004. (Wednesday).
Figures speak for themselves:
Average per hour hits 786
Maximum per hour hits 4,267
Average hits per day 18,887
Maximum hits per day 40,891
Total Hits for the month of November 566,632
www.saudielection.com, is a bilingual website (Arabic/English) providing up to date election news and election forum where the voting public can register free of charge to exchange messages and ideas about the elections.
The website was launched by a group of private Saudi professionals headed by Mr. Turki Faisal Al Rasheed, a prominent businessman. It is dedicated to different types of elections that will be taking place in the Kingdom. The website will initially focus on the upcoming municipal elections due to be held all over the Kingdom starting February 10, 2004.
www.saudielection.com is calling on candidates to use the website to announce their candidacy as well as their policies and programs. Personal profiles of candidates will also be provided. Advertisement will be entertained.
Answers of the Questions to HRH Prince Mansour Bin Miteb Bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of the General Committee for Municipal Elections
Questions From Flying Falcon
FF: What is the proper campaign teams for each candidate in reaching votes? Since I?ve just read in the newspaper that they are not allowed to make in Public or even on televisions.
PRINCE: The proper campaign team for each candidate in reaching voters depends up his own strategy and has the right to use the all means of campaign except ads in TV and Radio.
FF: What should be the Criteria of choosing a candidate in your country? Since people in your place are not that much active into politics because of your culture and traditions. In your opinion, what would be the main CRITERIA of the Saudi nationals in choosing a candidate?
PRINCE: There are no criteria to choosing the candidate. But I hope the voters will choose the candidate whom they will serve the citizens in their constituency.
FF: Why women are not allowed to vote?? As part of your society I think they be given a chance to choose the future leaders.
PRINCE: Women are not allowed to vote in this election, because of the short period of time to prepare the election and lack of necessary logistic requirements and skilled women. But we hope the next election after four years will include all elements of Saudi society.
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Ronaldo : DO YOU APPROVE OR CONSIDER ANY ELECTION RESULTS PROTEST IN YOUR COUNTRY?
PRINCE : Any registered voters or candidates have the right to protest and dispute the results of the election by submitting his grievances to the board of challenging and grievances based on each region in the country.
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JMA : I just realized that in all the coverage of these historic Saudi elections, I have seen nothing regarding your career. Could you post a bio or CV (year of birth, education information and former government postings, etc.) for yourself.
I know the elections will be successful and I trust that Saudi Arabia?s future will be quite bright.
PRINCE: I was born in 1952. I got my doctorate in Public Administration from George Washington University at United States. And I am a faculty member at the department of Public Administration at the School of Administrative Science, King Saud University.
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Satellite : Why women are not allowed to participate in this upcoming election? I believe women have the right to voice out their opinions and to have the equality same as men does. I believe in order to compete with modern globalization, it is now the right time to give women the right to vote and to help build the nation. Let them do their share same as other Arab countries do.
PRINCE: Women are not allowed to vote in this election, because of the short period of time to prepare the election and lack of necessary logistic requirements and skilled women. But we hope the next election after four years will include all elements of Saudi society.
Satellite: What is the procedure of counting the votes, manually or is their any electronic machines like computers to do the job for immediate posting of winners?
PRINCE: The procedures of counting the votes at this election will be manually. We choose this method rather than any electronic machine due to the recommendation of United Nation?s advisory team who emphasis this method to assure the integrity of the first election.
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Flying Falcon
FF : Do you think the ongoing attack in U.S. Consulate in Jeddah will encourage and create an impact on the Saudi?s to register and vote? Because of sympathy!
PRINCE : I don?t think the attack in US consulate in Jeddah will have any impact or effect in this election.
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MARY : His Royal Highness, Prince Mansour, I have read a lot about the Saudi Arabia Municipal elections in the internet. Given the short period of campaigning for the municipal candidates? I think only 2 weeks. Do you think it is enough time the voting public would know who the candidates are giving into consideration that publicmeeting newspaper, TV and radio is prohibited?
PR
INCE : I agree with you that two weeks may not be enough for campaigning. But the reason is, as this is the first election in Saudi Arabia, we have to consolidate the voters registration and to decide the constituency and then declare the candidates. But in the next election after four years the constituency will be declared two months ahead of election.
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CHRISMILLER
CM : Would you consider extending the voting registration date in order to get more votes.
PRINCE:We can?t extend the voting registration deadline.
CM : On the issue of women cannot vote for now in Saudi Municipal elections, would there be a chance eventually that women can register and vote in this year Saudi Arabia municipal elections?
PRINCE: Women are not allowed to vote in this election, because of the short period of time to prepare the election and lack of necessary logistic requirements and skilled women. But we hope the next election after four years will include all elements of Saudi society.
CM : Would an elected (by the people) and appointed (by the government) Municipal member have an equal work load in their respective municipalities.
PRINCE: Yes. I think that elected and appointed members of the municipality council will have an equal work load.
CM : What is your criteria in appointing an official in a municipality?
PRINCE: The Municipalities need special professionals, such as to conduct the zoning and urban planning and licensing etc. And therefore they appointed officials hope fully will be depend upon their qualification, knowledge and background.
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JULIA : Dear Prince Mansour, Here are my questions his excellency:
The Elected Municipal Officials in each Regions how would they know they have won and how soon?
PRINCE: The declaration of the result will be right after the completion of the vote counting.
How would the municipal elected officials be sworn in, would it be public or private?
PRINCE: I don?t know whether there will be a sworn held.
JULIA : Would their duties and responsibilities be the same as the appointed officials of the government?
PRINCE: Yes. I think that elected and appointed members of the municipality council will have an equal work load.
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ARAB PRINCEAR : What are the requirements for an individual to declare his candidacy for the incoming municipal elections?
PRINCE: The requirement for an individuals to declare his candidacy has been explained in the candidate guide line provided in the website
www.elections.gov.saAR : Are there expenditure limitations for a candidate to spend for his candidacy?
PRINCE: There are no expenditure limitations.
AR : Are there any possibilities that ?you? as a chairman committee for the elections may proposed or suggest for a higher officials and national elections?
PRINCE: What I concerned at the present time only about the Municipality councilelection.
AR : Could there be a chance to heard the voice of womans be elected who?s interests is to serve your people and your country?
PRINCE: Women are not allowed to vote in this election, because of the short period of time to prepare the election and lack of necessary logistic requirements and skilled women. But we hope the next election after four years will include all elements of Saudi society.
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Questions from
Amkhak@aol.comAsalaamualaikum BROTHER IN ISLAM, I would like to give you simple questions about election.
How many party are there for freedom and fair election?
PRINCE: There are no political parties in Saudi Arabia.
Is it going to be proper under Sharia Islamic Law?
Since last Khalifah that over 75 years ago is it possible to form again within 3 day after election? Inshallah do the way of Shahaabah period. Wasalaam your brother in Islam.
PRINCE: In Saudi Arabia, laws and regulations are in accordance with the Islamic Laws.
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Questions received from SAM SO
johnsons6sa@yahoo.comDear Sir,
Thanks for hearing an election going to be conducted in Saudi Arabia. Well all the best. I would like to ask few questions.
Firstly, you are giving chance to listen public interest through elected members. Of course if one member arising about religious freedom what could be your answer?
Secondly, how are you going to treat foreigners at their present situation like job, cultural and social.
PRINCE: We issued the regulation about the campaign of the Municipality election in the website
www.elections.gov.sa>>>>>> :::: <<<<<<
Questions from Rashida Mukhtar (
rmukh@yahoo.com)
I am very happy that the Kingdom is taking a step in the right direction by holding municipal elections.
I know we are living in the 21st century & being an emancipated woman myself, would love to see that Saudi women are given the right to vote. But I am happy that the elections are being held in the first place.
Women in the West were only granted the right to vote in the late 1930?s so I do not agree with all the fuss that is being made here about women not having the right to vote. This itself is a gradual process and I am sure they will very soon have that right.
PRINCE: Women are not allowed to vote in this election, because of the short period of time to prepare the election and lack of necessary logistic requirements and skilled women. But we hope the next election after four years will include all elements of Saudi society.
The northwest of Jeddah (west of Madinah road and onwards) seem only to be having good roads & amenities while south Jeddah & east of Madinah road seem to be neglected.
If one were to go to downtown Balad?it?s a sore sight to see the state of roads, no water, no garbage disposal to name a few.
Why are there no parks in residential areas. There seem to be only concrete jungles. Children need to play in safe environments and not on the roads where there is no proper driving ethics. Every area should have a park within 10 mins walking distance.
There is a park recently made on Malek road (where Tahlia street begins). It is right in the middle of a main road and it has no fences .. how do you expect little children to be playing in such a park & there be no accidents .. its appalling.
These are just a few of my questions .. hoping that you will take them up in your discussions.
PRINCE: Now our duty as a committee and myself as the chairman of the general committee for the Municipality election in Saudi Arabia, to prepare and fulfill the all requirements and to supervise the implementation of the election process.
Questions Received from Rajaa Mohamed (njood
2000@yahoo.com)
Since today will be the last day for all questions that should be sent to Prince Mansur,
I would like to ask him if we as (Eastern Province) women (Who would like to elect themselves) would like to meet with him for some important issues regarding the elections for women, is it ok with him or no??
As far as I know it is women?s right to meet and discuss with him their right to practice this in Eastern Province since still there is time for election in Eastern Province.
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Second:
It is so important for women to participate since they have different beauty touch and different point of view, I think their standing besides men will complete the circle and the equality will be done and accomplished 100% instead of 50%.
THANKS FOR FIRST: HIS KINDNESS TO ANSWER ME AND SECOND: TO ALLOW US TO MEET HIM AT HIS CONVENIENCE?
PRINCE: Women are not allowed to vote in this election, because of the short period of time to prepare the election and lack of necessary logistic requirements and skilled women. But we hope the next election after four years will include all elements of Saudi society.
