RIYADH, July 1, 2007 (AFP) - Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdel Aziz ruled out for the time being Sunday the holding of partial elections to the kingdom's appointed consultative council.
Asked whether Saudi Arabia planned to hold elections to the council like those held to municipal councils in 2005 in which half of the seats were up for grabs, the prince said the question "does not arise for the moment".
"The most important issue is competence. The council currently embraces the best minds in the kingdom," the prince said.
"The important thing is who they are, not how they got there."
Set up in 1993, the consultative council or Majlis al-Shura has 120 members but no legislative powers.
Its members are appointed by King Abdullah and all of its recommendations must be submitted to him for approval.
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