Kuwaitis vote in new MPs in hopes of ending standoff

KUWAIT CITY: Voters yesterday headed to the polls in Kuwait’s seventh legislative election in just over a decade, following repeated political crises that have undermined parliament and stalled reforms.

More than 793,000 eligible voters had the chance to determine the make-up of the 50-seat legislature in the only Gulf Arab state to have an elected parliament with powers to hold government to account.

Polling centres opened at 8am local time and closed 12 hours later, with the results to be announced the following day, the official Kuwait News Agency said.

“My vote is a right and a duty,” said Kuwaiti citizen Ibrahim Shehab, urging others to participate despite concerns over voter apathy.

“I hope that all Kuwaitis who are entitled to vote will follow my example to protect democracy,” he told AFP.

Kuwait’s emir, Nawaf al-Ahmad AlSabah, called the vote last month after he had again dissolved parliament amid a persistent deadlock with the executive branch that has deterred investment and impeded growth.

A total of 207 candidates are running for a four-year term as lawmakers, the lowest number in a general election since 1996. They include opposition figures and 13 women.

Despite widespread frustration with the political elite, human rights activist Hadeel Buqrais said it was still important to cast a ballot.

“This is the only place where I have a voice, and boycotting means giving up my right as a citizen,” she told AFP ahead of election day.

Since Kuwait adopted a parliamentary system in 1962, the legislature has been dissolved a dozen times.