452K eligible to vote in next poll
Decision on by-elections soon
KUWAIT CITY, May 11: A total of 452,000 citizens - 229,000 women and 223,000 men - are eligible to vote in the next parliamentary elections, reports Al-Anba daily quoting sources from the Department of Elections in the Ministry of Interior.
This came after counting the lists of registrations in 2014. Sources confirmed the removal of the names of those who failed to meet the registration conditions from the roster of qualified voters. Sources said some areas have been excluded from the electoral lists because they were established after issuance of the Five Constituencies Law, indicating the citizens residing in these areas will have the right to vote only when the National Assembly ratifies a legislation specifying the constituency that covers their areas of residence.
In a related issue, sources disclosed the upcoming by-elections will be conducted according to law number 35/1962 on the general elections. Sources said the filing of candidacies will be for a period of 10 consecutive days soon, after making the publication of the announcement in this regard in the official newspaper.
Sources confirmed the Ministers Council, in its next session, will finalize its decision on the by-elections after the resignation of five MPs. Sources explained this step has been taken to dispel rumors on the dissolution of the Parliament and prevent the resignation of more lawmakers.
Meanwhile, Al-Watan Arabic daily has quoted former MP Dr Hassan Jawhar as saying the current political scene is the outcome of the performance of the previous parliaments. He expressed concern over the political situation, especially since the consequences of such a performance have been ignored.
He claimed the incumbent legislature is weak and its political positions are not linked with the ambitions of the people. He wondered why none of the MPs had voiced opinion on the cancellation of the interpellation request against HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak. He then criticized Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim for the way he handled the cancellation as it was not the case in previous parliaments.
He pointed out the Assembly will not be dissolved for two reasons - first, none of the remaining MPs will resign, and second, the legislature is under the control of the government.