http://www.gulfnews.com/news/gulf/kuwait/10314645.html
Reuters
Kuwaiti Courts Advisor Mohammad Lounayan reads from a ballot
as assistants mark the vote count manually in Jabriyah. Five different areas
voted in 10 members of parliament to complete 50 members.
Islamists face the public wrath
By Mohammed Almezel, Deputy Managing Editor
Published: May 17, 2009, 23:48
Dubai: Kuwaitis heaved a sigh of relief yesterday as election
results showed a strong desire within the electorate to part ways with the
Islamist movement in favour of more moderate and even liberal voices for only
the first time in more than two decades.
The surprising results, officially announced last morning, saw four
women joining the National Assembly for the first time since its inception 46
years ago.
A sense of frustration at the constant political deadlock in the
country, which led to the suspension of parliament three times in as many
years, was evident in the exceptionally low voter turnout, with only 58 per
cent of people exercising their franchise, down from last year's 65 per cent.
Kuwait's legislature is elected directly by the people and its
tryst with democracy has always been watched closely by its Gulf neighbours,
often with a distinct sense of unease.
Kuwait's parliament has often been accused of holding up major
economic Bills, like the proposed multi-billion dollar stimulus package which
became a bone of contention earlier this year. The deadlock led the Emir,
Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad to dissolve the parliament and call for new elections.
The Emir yesterday sounded understandably jubilant as he "expressed
happiness" that four women had made it to the parliament, according to a
congratulatory note released by the state news agency Kuna.
The Ruler urged the four new female MPs, Massouma Al Mubarak, Aseel
Al Awadi, Rola Dashti, and Salwa Al Jassar, to work with their "brothers to
serve the homeland".
The Islamist movement was in for a bitter shock with both the
Salafis and the Muslim Brotherhood being drubbed at the hustings. The Salafist
representation in parliament will now be limited to just two lawmakers, down
from five. The Muslim Brotherhood, or the Islamic Constitutional Movement as it
is called in Kuwait, was down to one seat compared to three in the dissolved
parliament.
The voters opted instead to bring in the more moderate voices,
along with liberals and independents who can work with the government to boost
the economy which has been battered by the global recession.
Seven liberals, including three women, made it to the parliament,
compared with five lawmakers in the last assembly. Overall, 21 new faces have
entered the parliament, unprecedented in Kuwait's parliamentary history. Shiite
politicians also won big yesterday, grabbing nine seats, up from six in the
last legislature.
Kuwaitis, frustrated by long periods of political instability, are
now looking forward to a 'truce' between the government and lawmakers, former
minister Saad Al Ajmi wrote on his popular website, Al Aan.
"This is the will of change of the Kuwaiti people," one of the
woman MPs, Massouma Al Mubarak, told reporters yesterday. "We hope the results
will lead to political stability and help achieve the desired cooperation
between parliament and government."
Do you think women make better ministers than men do? What special
characteristics do women bring to parliaments?
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