To be sure, the Saudi system is still worlds away from being a Westminster-style democracy; indeed, it will probably never become one. All the same, this municipal election should be looked upon as a giant first step in the arduous journey toward Saudi democracy.
但可以确定的是，沙特体系与韦斯敏斯特式的民主相差甚远截然不同。事实上，它可能永远不会变成那样。尽管如此，这次市政选举还是应该被看作沙特通向民主的艰辛旅程中的第一步，也是巨大的一步。虽然沙特在其他领域有很多令人疑虑和担忧之处，沙特政权的这次主动变革还是值得赞赏的。