Democracy Pissed On

The Saudi ruling thugs have decided to hold the first municipal elections since the 1960's:

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia said Saturday it will hold municipal elections in September, the first polls to be held in decades in this conservative kingdom.

Municipal Affairs Minister Prince Mutaeb said election preparations have started and a list of regulations would be issued soon, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

The vote will cover 178 municipal councils organized in 13 districts, Mutaeb said.

The elections are scheduled to be held after summer vacation ends and the at the start of the school year, which begins Sept. 11.

The municipal elections would give Saudis the chance to participate - if only in a limited manner - in decision making, a rare even in the oil rich kingdom which is an absolute monarchy that has an unelected Consultative Council that acts like a parliament. Political parties are banned and press freedoms are limited.

That should be about as fair as Saddam getting 100% of the vote in his last "campaign".