Manama: Lawmaker Marzooq Ali Al Ganem was on Tuesday elected the new Speaker of the Kuwaiti parliament.
Al Ganem received 36 votes, against 18 for contenders Ali Al Rashed, the outgoing Speaker, and Radhwan Al Radhwan, eight.
A fourth contender Ali Al Amair had pulled out of the race after the government ministers had not reportedly been requested to support a specific candidate.
“Kuwaiti men and women braved the heat in Ramadan for the sake of Kuwait and driven by the hope to address issues,” the new Speaker said in his first comments.
“I forgive everyone who had wronged me and I call for starting a new phase to fulfil the aspirations of the Kuwaiti people,” he said.
Ali Al Rashed offered his congratulations to his successor and pledged full cooperation and assistance “for the sake of Kuwait.”
Al Ganem, born in 1968, holds a degree in mechanical engineering. He was elected as lawmaker in 2006, 2008, 2009 and February 2012.
The position of parliament Speaker carries weight in Kuwait.
Two women won seats in the national polls to vote in the 14th parliament of the northern Arabian Gulf country since its independence in 1962.
