Kuwait: Apathy vs hope

Kuwait Times
Published Date: April 15, 2009
By Rawan Khalid, Staff writer


KUWAIT: Kuwait's elections will be held on May 16, but not many Kuwaitis seem that enthusiastic about them. While a few point out specific issues like women's progress or the rights of bedoons, most seem certain that the polls will bring little change to Kuwait.

Fares K is a supporter of a hands-on policy that hasn't been seen. The 28-year-old said, "What a candidate says during his electoral campaign should be done because what he said is like a promise to Kuwaitis. As we see during every election, candidates say what they want and we put our hopes in them and that they will change the reality in Kuwait. I am sorry for saying this, but nothing has changed.

Kuwait's young generation doesn't want to even think about the elections and they don't care about what is happening in Parliament. Twenty-four-year old Muna A is apathetic. "I am not interested in knowing about the elections and about who won or who lost, because I think the elections are all about wasta.

Another citizen was more critical as he related the many problems in the country to Parliament. "The National Assembly is the main problem in hampering the development in the country. Take the economic crisis for example. I heard that there is KD 2 million spent on the elections when the country needs this money," she argued.

Ahmed is disillusioned about the elections, too. "At the end of the day, elections mean nothing to me because it is the same every year. There are a lot of people who don't deserve to be in Parliament," he noted. On the other hand, there are many young Kuwaitis who are interested in voting for certain candidates but are overall less interested in the elections and Parliament.

A student at Kuwait University, 22-year-old May M, sees women as the key to progress. "I am with Aseel Al-Awadhi and I hope she wins because she deserves to. In my opinion, she has the key for changing the reality in Kuwait," she said.

We want someone who will do what he said in his electoral campaign, like [Mohammad] Al-Hayef [Al-Mutairi] who removed all the old 'musala' from the streets. I am a supporter of Al-Hayef," said 24-year-old Bader A.

Another, albeit minor issue of concern to voters, it turns out, are calls demanding rights for the stateless (bedoon). Granting bedoons Kuwaiti nationality and treating them like Kuwaitis is an issue that some see as key.
Umm Mohammad, a bedoon mother of three, has hope that one day her children will be citizens. "I hope all the candidates who promise the [Kuwaiti] nationality to the bedoon win because they will change our lives. I can't even let my children study in school now," she pointed out.