Reform inches forward

According to this Washington Times article municipal elections are being held in Saudi Arabia for the first time in 40 years.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — A candidate in groundbreaking elections beginning here today has a plan to reduce the kingdom's dependence on foreign labor, but it may be too radical for most of his countrymen: letting women drive...

The 45-year-old businessman, who is seeking municipal office in the kingdom's first elections in more than 40 years, is running on a social-reform platform that, besides letting women drive, would permit the opening of theaters and playhouses to help keep Saudi youth off the streets.
    But, he explained between phone calls as he drove through Riyadh, so great is the resistance to such ideas in Saudi Arabia that he finds the best way to promote social change is to emphasize the economic benefits.
    Thus, he speaks not about the rights of women, but rather of the need to reduce the traffic jams that daily clog the streets of the capital.
    It has been 40 years since Saudis were able to debate such issues in an election campaign, and at that time, they could vote only on the municipal level in a few major cities.