Escalation of Kuwaitis’ demonstrations could leave the government vulnerable
Causes, possible impact of protests against alleged rampant corruption
KUWAIT: A demonstration held outside the Kuwaiti parliament over alleged rampant corruption was reminiscent of past crises that have marred political life in the oil-rich Gulf state. The gathering on Wednesday night by hundreds of protesters, the first of its kind in the emirate for several months, comes at a time of mass demonstrations against graft in Lebanon and Iraq. Kuwait is the only member of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to have witnessed such anti-government protests. Here is a look at the causes and possible impact.
Why are Kuwaitis angry?
At the opening ceremony of the newly-elected parliament last week, pro-government speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem lashed out at what he said was gross exaggeration of the extent of corruption in Kuwait. He said there were attempts to show Kuwait as if it were “the capital of the corruption world and that all Kuwaitis are involved in corruption.”
The provocative statement angered citizens and triggered the protest, said political analyst Ibrahim Dashti. “Citizens feel that corruption is widespread everywhere. We are one of the world’s richest countries but still have no good roads; (public) education and health services have deteriorated,” Dashti said.
Kuwait ranks 78th on the 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index compiled by Transparency International-the worst performance of any of the oilrich Gulf states. The government-appointed AntiCorruption Authority said last year it received 196 complaints regarding corruption cases but referred only 34 of them for investigation.
What’s next?
Given the current mood across the region, commentators are watching to see if the Kuwait demonstrations escalate, and if so whether the government will be vulnerable. At Wednesday’s protest, unlike previous demonstrations, no political organizations were invited and no speeches made, making its impact difficult to assess. Kuwait witnessed large-scale demonstrations in late 2011, coinciding with the Arab Spring uprisings. Those rallies, led by opposition groups and lawmakers, were also focused on combatting corruption and pressing for political and constitutional reforms. The protests forced then prime minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to step down. His Highness the Amir issued a decree to dissolve parliament and call for early polls. If the latest protests continue, “the government of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah will resign and snap polls will be held,” said Dashti.
Are protests allowed?
Kuwaitis are allowed to hold peaceful protests as part of their constitutional rights, on condition they obtain a permit from the authorities. Unlike its Gulf neighbors, Kuwait has a vibrant political life and an elected parliament. It became the first Gulf state to have a constitution and elected chamber in 1962. The 50-seat parliament also has powers to hold ministers to account in Kuwait, whose citizens make up about 30 percent of the 4.7-million population.