Why top women won’t contest civic elections

JEDDAH: A number of prominent Saudi women have cited several reasons for not running as candidates in the upcoming municipal elections. Some of them are an alleged lack of clarity on nominations and voting; they are too busy; and they want to make way for younger people.
Madawi Hassoun, head of the beauty centers committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), said: “I will not contest the elections although I was successful in the JCCI vote. I want to give new faces a chance to contribute to the region’s development.”
She added: “Running in an election needs time and a lot of effort which I cannot afford to give currently because of my work commitments. I am optimistic that young educated faces will emerge. They will continue what we’ve started and will achieve a great deal.”
She said that women would perform outstanding work on the councils because they have fresh ideas.
Wafa Halawani, a former assistance secretary of neighborhood centers in Makkah, she would not run because there “is a lack of clarity on the nomination and voting mechanisms.”
Nashwa Taher, chairperson of the trade committee at the JCCI, said she does not have the time to run. “The task of serving the community is not easy. One should be fully committed to perform the task with complete honesty, transparency and clarity.”
Rania Salama, chairperson of the young businesswomen committee said she has no free time for that.
Amani Abdul Wasie echoed this view.