Saudi Arabia Elects its First Female Politicians

 

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA- DECEMBER 12: Saudi women cast their votes for the municipal elections at a polling station on December 12, 2015 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Women are running the municipal council seats as candidates for the first time in the Kingdom’s history and also be allowed for the first time to vote in a governmental election. The Municipal councils are the only government body in which Saudi Arabian citizens can elect representatives, so the vote is widely seen as a small but significant opening for women to play a more equal role in society. (Photo by Jordan Pix/ Getty Images)

It is quite a historic time for Saudi Arabia, as 18 women have won seats in the country’s municipal polls, the country’s first-ever elections open to female voters and candidates.

According to Al Jazeera, “the women who won hail from vastly different parts of the country, ranging from Saudi Arabia’s largest city to a small village near Islam’s holiest site.”

The report further states that over 900 women ran for seats. They ran against about 6,000 men competing for places on 284 councils whose powers are restricted to local affairs including responsibility for streets, public gardens and rubbish collection.