Shias Win 8 Seats in Kuwait Parliament
Kuwait’s Shia minority has won eight seats in the parliamentary elections that were held for the second time in eight months, official results show.
The final results showed early Sunday that liberals also made slight gains by securing three seats in the new 50-member parliament. Sunni groups won seven seats in the parliament.
Figures indicated that 52.5 percent of Kuwaitis took part in the elections, compared to December’s record low of 40 percent.
Most opposition groups boycotted the Saturday elections in protest against an amended electoral law that allows the ruling Al-Sabah family to change the voting rule to one vote per person, instead of the previous four votes.
The opposition says the new amendment paves the way for manipulation of the results of the elections and subsequent legislation.
They had also boycotted the last parliamentary vote that was held in December.
About 440,000 people were eligible to elect 50 legislators from among 300 hopefuls in the elections.
The elections came a month after the constitutional court dissolved the loyalist-dominated parliament, citing flaws in the procedures leading to the elections of December 2012.
Since May 2006, Kuwait has seen the formation of about a dozen cabinets.
Under Kuwait’s 1962 constitution, the ruling family holds key posts including the premiership and the ministries of defense, interior, and foreign affairs.
The opposition is also demanding that the constitution be modified.
In 2011, protesters stormed the parliament, calling for the resignation of former Prime Minister Nasser Mohammed Al Ahmed al-Sabah.
Although Kuwait was the first Arab state in the Persian Gulf to establish an elected parliament in 1962, the Al-Sabah family has remained in control of key posts. The family has enjoyed unchallenged power for over 200 years.
Source: Press TV
Figures indicated that 52.5 percent of Kuwaitis took part in the elections, compared to December’s record low of 40 percent.
Most opposition groups boycotted the Saturday elections in protest against an amended electoral law that allows the ruling Al-Sabah family to change the voting rule to one vote per person, instead of the previous four votes.
The opposition says the new amendment paves the way for manipulation of the results of the elections and subsequent legislation.
They had also boycotted the last parliamentary vote that was held in December.
About 440,000 people were eligible to elect 50 legislators from among 300 hopefuls in the elections.
The elections came a month after the constitutional court dissolved the loyalist-dominated parliament, citing flaws in the procedures leading to the elections of December 2012.
Since May 2006, Kuwait has seen the formation of about a dozen cabinets.
Under Kuwait’s 1962 constitution, the ruling family holds key posts including the premiership and the ministries of defense, interior, and foreign affairs.
The opposition is also demanding that the constitution be modified.
In 2011, protesters stormed the parliament, calling for the resignation of former Prime Minister Nasser Mohammed Al Ahmed al-Sabah.
Although Kuwait was the first Arab state in the Persian Gulf to establish an elected parliament in 1962, the Al-Sabah family has remained in control of key posts. The family has enjoyed unchallenged power for over 200 years.
Source: Press TV
