More than half of Kuwait’s members of Parliament have resigned in protest at a court’s decision to annul an election that had given the conservative-led opposition a majority.
The resignations deepen the political crisis in the major oil exporter.
Wednesday’s ruling effectively dissolved the Parliament elected in February and reinstated its predecessor, but the resignations by many lawmakers who were in the previous Parliament deprives the 50-seat Assembly of more than half its members, making it difficult to function.
The number of resigning lawmakers had risen by yesterday to at least 26, parliamentary sources said.
“It does us no honor to be part of the 2009 assembly which was brought down by the nation,” said Jamaan Al-Harbish after Wednesday’s ruling, speaking on behalf of several lawmakers.
“We thus tender our resignations,” he added.
Some parliamentarians and analysts compared Wednesday’s court ruling to Egypt’s constitutional court’s decision to annul the conservative-dominated Parliament earlier this month.