Saudi- Judges lawyers to monitor civic polls

(MENAFN- Arab News) The number of candidates for the next municipal election has been decreased to two-thirds instead of half which was the case in the past.
The authorities will seek the help of lawyers and judges to monitor the elections.
According to one election official women would be strongly represented in the elections for the first time. The elections are scheduled for September this year. 'Women will have a chance to prove themselves' he said.
He pointed out that the Jeddah municipality had established election committees for the next elections which will take place over the next two to three months and will be completed before the expiry of the current session.
He said that a secondary education would be sufficient qualification for candidates. They should have no criminal record and be well-informed about the work of the municipality.
He pointed out that the Municipal Council does not interfere in elections; there are committees in the Jeddah municipality that supervise them. They are independent committees and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs has regulatory committees. The municipality will seek the assistance of lawyers judges and university professors to monitor the elections.
He said the Municipal Council is a monitoring body that supervises the work and performance of the municipality and the governorate. The council makes periodic reports about the work of the municipality which deal with such items as hygiene combating insects and dengue fever paving roads lighting municipal licenses and projects such as flyovers and underpasses.
He said the reports were methods of control and that the council meets with citizens. He noted that the council is the first to allow Saudi women to work.
The council follows up on the municipality's performance by carrying out field visits to various districts of the governorate.