GPC wins majority of local council secretary-general seats [Archives:2006/995/Front Page]

By: Hamdan Dammaj
SANA'A, Nov. 1 ) Elections for secretary-general on local councils were conducted yesterday, with the ruling General People's Congress (GPC) winning the majority of seats in 15 governorates where election results had been announced at the time of this writing.

The Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) won the post only in Al-Dhale' governorate.

Following announcement of the election results, GPC candidate Sa'eed Ali Bayamin was declared local council secretary-general in Hadramout governorate, as well as Mujahed Shayef Al-Ansi in Dhamar, Ali Ahmad Al-Zaikum in Al-Mahwit, Amin Ali Al-Warafi in Ibb, Mohamed Ahmad Al-Haj in Taiz, Hassan Haij in Hodeidah and Jaber Ali Al-Shabwani in Marib.

Additionally, GPC candidate Naser Al-Fadhli won secretary-general in Abyan governorate, Ali Haidarah Mater in Lahj, Amin Juma'an in the capital, Nasser Al-Khadher Al-Sawadi in Al-Beidha, Hassan Mohamed Mana'a in Sa'ada, Abdulkarim Shayef in Aden and Salem Al-Humais in Shabwa.

Only Mohamed Ghaleb Al-Utabi of the JMP won the secretary-general post on Al-Dhale' governorate's local council.

Minister of Local Administration Sadeq Amin Abu Ra'as announced that concerned parties are studying implementing President Ali Abdullah Saleh's platform, which includes electing governors after three months.

Law professor Dr. Mohamed Ali Al-Saqqaf criticized such gubernatorial elections, asserting that such a procedure is bound to create problems in Yemen's administrative system.

Al-Saqqaf suggested that secretary-generals be given broader authority, but the president should appoint governors because they are considered state representatives.
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