Saudi prince calls for constitution, political reforms News
Saudi prince calls for constitution, political reforms

[JURIST] Prince Talal bin Abdel-Aziz [profile], a half-brother of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia [Wikipedia profile] has called for political reform in Saudi Arabia, including the introduction of a constitution and a "quasi-legislative council." He told Radio Monte Carlo [media website] that Arab rulers should introduce change before they are required to by political uprisings, which happened recently in Lebanon and Egypt. Talal called for the drafting of a basic statute of government, saying that the a constitution should serve as "a social covenant between ruler and ruled." He also said his country needed "political reforms in the first place, then economic and social [reforms], such as reforming education and the judiciary." Additionally, Talal suggested that the appointed Shura Council [official website, in English], which currently only has an advisory role, should be turned into a "quasi-legislative council" that monitors the government. Talal does not hold an official position in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. AFP has more.