AROUND 70 women in four main cities have nominated themselves to run in the upcoming municipal elections, according to recent press reports. This means that there will be thousands of women, across the Kingdom's other towns and cities, who will run for elections as the door to candidacy is still open.
I don't think it's an exaggeration to say the lists of candidates for municipal elections will include thousands of women. Hundreds of them will no doubt qualify for candidacy. Many of these will win and become full-fledged members of the municipal councils. They will also participate effectively in running the public affairs of the country.
This is of course if the women councils' members are not hindered by the size of responsibility and the magnitude of authority delegated to them. The negative response of government departments to their requests may also be another hurdle in their path.
The zeal of Saudi women to run in municipal elections is not only a reflection of their confidence in their ability at running public affairs, but also a reflection of their trust in society, which has willingly accepted their nominations.
This is not surprising. It is actually a natural product of the Kingdom's social, cultural and economic progression. This dynamic progression will see increased recognition for Saudi women and misconceptions about them will be corrected.
There are many rumors that doubt the capabilities of Saudi women and attempts to obscure any role for them in society under various pretexts, all of them without base or any support in either Shariah or just plain common sense.
The nomination of Saudi women in municipal elections represents a new birth for our nation, which has been further boosted by a strong royal will to give women the right to vote and run for seats on municipal councils.
This royal will is matched by society's demand to enable women to vote and be candidates in the elections.
The move has further confirmed the seriousness and credibility of Saudi women and has confirmed their strong will to serve the nation.
