KUWAIT: Liberals and candidates from some of Kuwait’s more marginalized tribes have won seats in a Parliament which may prove more cooperative with the ruling family after opposition conservatives and populists boycotted the election.
Saturday’s ballot was the sixth since 2006 in the major oil producer, where political upheaval and bureaucracy have held up the vast majority of projects in a 30-billion-dinar ($105-billion) economic development plan announced in 2010.
“The large number of new MPs gives hope that a National Assembly with greater popular backing can find a way of improving relations with the government,” said Gulf expert Kristian Ulrichsen, at the US-based Baker Institute for Public Policy, referring to a 12 percent higher turnout than last time.
“The increased turnout signals that many Kuwaitis are ready to put the recent past behind them and move forward,” Ulrichsen said.
In accordance with Kuwait’s legislation, the outgoing Cabinet approved a draft decree inviting new lawmakers to hold their first parliamentary session on Aug. 6, state news agency KUNA said.
The outgoing prime minister has also sent the government’s letter of resignation to the emir, as is the norm following a new parliamentary vote.
The turnout in searing heat and during Ramadan was still lower than in several elections before 2012 when about 60 percent of voters cast ballots. Voters also complained about a lack of development in Kuwait — one of the world’s richest countries per capita.
“The country is reeling from the deterioration of services and we need to treat the wounds to start a new phase with genuine cooperation between the two authorities,” new MP Issa Al-Kandari said, referring to the government and Parliament.
Newly-elected Kamel Al-Awadi said he would “work on all projects that move the economy forward” including housing and infrastructure projects. Many of these were touted in the 2010 development plan and have not been delivered.
The mainly conservative and populist opposition boycotted the poll in protest against a new voting system announced last year, which cut the number of votes per citizen to one from four. Opposition politicians said this would prevent them forming a majority in Parliament.
Shiites — estimated at 20-30 percent of the population — won just eight seats in the 50-member Parliament compared to 17 in the last election in December, after Sunnis in their districts ramped up a campaign to win seats.
Liberals, smaller tribes win seats in Kuwait vote
