Large turnout in Kuwait polls

  KUWAIT CITY,February3 2012: Kuwaitis voted on Thursday in a snap election for the Gulf state’s fourth parliament in less than six years, with pollsters predicting a solid victory for the Islamist-led opposition.Early voter traffic at polling stations was low but picked up rapidly later, especially in tribal constituencies where men stood in long queues. Men and women lined up at segregated polling stations across five districts from 8am local time to cast votes for the National Assembly. About 400,000 people are entitled to vote in a country where a third of the population of 3.6 million is Kuwaiti. Unofficial estimates about two hours before the 1700 GMT close show that in some electoral districts, turnout was higher than 50 per cent. The vote, which follows an especially tense campaign marred by violence, seeks to end political disputes that have damaged the country for years. Female voters make up 54 per cent of the electorate, and 23 women are among 286 candidates standing for the 50-seat legislative body. In Sabah Al Salem, a tribal area 20km south of Kuwait City, male voters showed up in large numbers in the evening with less than an hour to close of polling. The voters sounded optimistic. The ballot follows months of unprecedented anti-government 
demonstrations sparked by corruption allegations. That prompted the Amir, His Highness Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, to dissolve parliament and call elections. “The opposition has been doing a good job fighting corruption,” said Ahmed Ali Al Habib, a 33-year-old engineer who was voting in Salwa, south of Kuwait City. He said he wants to see the opposition win 65 per cent of the seats. Saeed Bilal Moussa, a 57-year-old retiree voting in a next-door room, said: “I don’t want trouble-makers in the new parliament, and that’s what I voted for.” Kuwait, the fourth-biggest producer in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, created the Gulf’s first elected parliament half a century ago. Protests were fuelled by allegations that lawmakers received millions of dollars of unexplained payments and that then prime minister allegedly transferred public funds into his foreign bank accounts. The previous government denied the accusations.
The opposition has vowed to use its strength in the assembly to press for measures that would legalise political parties and let the elected assembly choose a government. Currently, Kuwait’s Amir appoints the Premier, and parliament has more powers to block legislation than initiate it. Of the 286 candidates running in five districts, 23 are women, including four lawmakers who were the first women to be elected when the last vote was held in May 2009. “I voted for liberalism and feminism,” Dalia Essa, 38, said after voting. “I want things to get done, I don’t want any more drama and debates. I want things that actually matter to happen, like education, health and development.” Opposition candidates including veteran lawmaker Ahmed Al Saadoun have accused the government of delays in implementation of its $111 billion investment plan, which includes expanding oil and gas production and building transport networks, cities, universities, hospitals, a new port and airport, and power stations. The opposition movement includes Islamists, liberals and independents, as well as youth groups who cite inspiration from the Arab protests that swept away longtime leaders in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Some groups demand a constitutional monarchy and elected government. Others say their focus is fighting corruption and are calling for political reform without amending the constitution. “I want more Islamist and opposition candidates to win,” said Mona Khalaf, a 43-year-old housewife, wearing the traditional black abaya, or cloak, and full-faced veil known as niqab. “A number of lawmakers are supporting anti-Islamic issues, they want alcohol,” which is banned, she said. “Tensions will continue because governments have always been against people’s wishes.” Pollsters and analysts expect the 400,000-strong electorate to deliver a resounding victory for the Islamist-led opposition which has campaigned vigorously for fundamental reforms and against corruption. The opposition may win 33 of the 50 seats, based on a synthesis of available opinion polls, Talal Al Kashti, who manages the Ittejahat Centre, a Kuwait-based research group, told Bloomberg on January 31. In the previous parliament, the opposition averaged about 20 lawmakers. “We are very optimistic that the opposition will achieve a majority in the next parliament,” former Islamist MP Waleed Al Tabtabai said. “I am hopeful that disputes will diminish because the opposition will strengthen its presence.”