 Apathy was reigning among Saudi men Wednesday in Riyadh on the eve of the first round of the kingdom's municipal vote, despite a visible election campaign that has seen posters pasted up all over the capital.Only around 148,000 men representing 37 percent of an estimated 400,000 eligible voters in the capital and its surroundings have registered to cast their ballots.Women, who make up more than 50 per cent of the population, have been banned from participating in the landmark polls. "I didn't register. I'm too busy ... and I don't regret not registering," said 35-year-old Abdulrahman Momenah, who claimed that his job as a computer consultant was time-consuming."I don't have time to see my relatives except on big occasions, like funerals ... You think I have time for elections?" |
