Number of women in Kuwait polls increases

Manama: The number of Kuwaiti women who signed up to run for parliament in 2012 has increased by 10, compared to the figure in 2009 when the last elections were held.

As the 10-day registration period ended on Friday, 29 women had registered to run, compared to 19 who signed up in 2009. The total number of candidates for the 50 green seats in the parliament reached 389, an increase by 107 over the last elections.

The highest number of hopefuls was in the Third Constituency with 83, followed by the First Constituency with 79, the Second Constituency with 78, the Fifth Constituency with 76 and the Fourth Constituency with 73.

Women topped in the Second Constituency with 10, followed by the Third Constituency with nine. The First and Fourth Constituencies had four candidates each while the Fifth Constituency had two women.

However, the figures of the candidates will be finalised on January 25, the deadline for pulling out of the national polls.

Around 400,000 eligible Kuwaitis are scheduled to cast their ballots for the new parliament on February 2.