Kuwait: Polls could mark major turning point

Gulfnews
By Duraid Al Baik, Associate Editor
Published: April 27, 2009, 23:16


Dubai: Analysts observed four major changes in the public arena in the 2009 parliament election campaign; two being quite serious which could lead to a dramatic change in the future of democracy in the GCC state.

First, the tone of criticism against the government in the upcoming election is intensified because of pressure to contain the impact of the international financial crisis.

"The tone of disagreement is being heard especially loud during the current electorate campaign, whereas before the Emir and members of the royal family enjoyed more criticism free status," Ali Al Baghli, an ex-minister and writer highlighted. He also added that respect for national figures has slowly been eroding and says that such practices should not be allowed to flourish under the umbrella of democracy.

The defragmentation of a very strong Islamic opposition which used to stand against liberal forces in Kuwait and the rise of tribalism are additional variables in the May election.

"The tribal forces that used to be weaker and very much depending on the support of the government in the previous elections are getting much stronger in this year's election with signs of not only getting more independent from the government but becoming an emerging threat to the government itself," Hamad Al Mutairi of Al Mutair tribe told Gulf News.

According to Al Mutair, tribal politicians have become very powerful and are using grassroots techniques to promote themselves.

He said they now use new methods like posters, SMS, and candlelit sit-ins.

Of striking significance are women candidates from four main tribes calling for public gatherings and speaking in public, Al Mutair pointed out.

He believes that the number of registered candidates for the 2009 election of 283 including 34 women will decline in the coming few days because candidates who registered in the campaign for tactical reason will withdraw before the scheduled election on May 16.

"Women who obtained the right to run for the parliament in the 2008 election and failed to reach the house in the previous election might get closer or even succeed in this year with three of them getting more sophisticated in managing election campaigns," he said.

Aseel Al Awadi, Rola Dashti and Massouma Al Mubarak, are among the 34 women candidates running for the parliament. They are becoming extremely sophisticated in managing their campaigns by focusing on the key issues considered important for people in their constituencies.

"Women participation in this campaign is no longer ceremonial and I expect one or two of them to succeed in their efforts and reach the parliament for the first time in the history of the state," he said

He said women like Engineer Naima Al Hai, a candidate for the third constituency, is challenging the Islamists by running emphasising her right to represent the electorate of her constituency without wearing the headscarf.

Referring to an incident in the previous parliament where Islamist MP's requested a woman minister to wear hijab while in the parliament, Al Hai said, "if they [Islamists] ask me to wear hijab I would ask them to grow a beard, shave their moustache and wear an above the ankle garment like instructed by the Sunna of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)".

The fourth variable in this election is the rise of televised media. Five satellite channels have been launched by different groups to convey the views of the candidates to people in their constituencies. Al Sisy said Al Shahid (the witness), Al Rai (the opinion), Al Majlis (the gathering hall), Al Adala (The Justice) and Scoop, have assigned a minimum of 12 hours of their programmes to cover electoral activities. "There is no more dependence on official media and how much the time it could offer to each and every candidate," he said.