Kuwaiti bloggers express dissatisfaction with election outcome

Kuwait City: Several Kuwaiti bloggers have analysed the outcome of the Kuwaiti legislative elections on May 17 and have expressed a sense of dissatisfaction.

One blogger, Bu Saleh Umm Jassem, saw a near suspension of democratic life in Kuwait as the parliament came under the dominance of Islamists and tribal-backed MPs, who, according to the blogger, took up 38 seats.

According to official results of last Saturday's elections, Islamists and tribesmen won 32 seats in the 50-seat parliament.

Predicting that such MPs will seek settling scores with the government with regard to the Cabinet's earlier attempts to curb illegal tribal primaries, a blogger urged the Kuwaiti ruling family to take a stand against the growing tribal clout.

Prior to the elections, Kuwaiti Cabinet faced extreme resistance from tribesmen who refused to abide by election laws and held discriminatory primaries. In three incidents, angry tribesmen threw stones and beat security forces who tried to stop primaries that were under way. Security forces were later forced to withdraw.

According to an official census published earlier by local paper Al Rai Al Aam, tribesmen account for 51 per cent of the 361,000 eligible votes taking part in the elections.

Influence of tribes on Kuwait's parliament was targeted by the new election law issued in 2006 stipulating the reduction in number of constituencies from 25 to five. Such a reduction in districts' numbers meant a larger span for each, which was hoped to lessen tribal influence as well as expose vote-purchasing attempts. However, results proved that tribal influence remained in tact.

Talking about the new five constituencies, Bu Saleh Umm Jassem said the new electoral system has backfired due to voters' superficiality and their search for personal gains.

Blogger Al Tareq described the new electoral system inefficient “as it puts 60 per cent of the parliamentary seats in the hands of four tribes, while the remaining 40 per cent represent the rest of the Kuwaiti nationals.''

Another blogger forzaq8, saw the results as a depiction that Kuwaiti citizens no longer trust political blocs and their tenets, which he said is a failure to all blocs.

“Candidate of Democratic National Alliance in the second constituency Mohammad Al Saqr got 6,266 votes. Candidate Mohammad Abdul Jader from the same bloc and constituency got only 3,633 votes. The difference of 2,630 votes show that voters vote for candidates regardless of blocs,'' the blogger explained.

In the same way, forzaq8 affirmed that all blocs have failed to maintain their supporters.

Kuwaiti blogger, Umm Sadda, wrote a brief post addressed to female candidate Dr Aseel Al Awadi who came in eleventh in her constituency, but only first 10 candidates make it to the parliament. Al Awadi was the only female candidate out of the total 27 female participants to be politically supported by a bloc.

Women voters made around 55 per cent of all valid votes. The post read “thank you for making us live the best experience. We'll wait for you in the very near future.''
On his part, blogger Mohammad Al Mansoury brushed aside all hopes that the new parliament will bring about development.