Islamists Take 14 Seats in Kuwaiti Election, Giving Control to Opposition Groups
- Posted on February 3, 2012 at 6:20am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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KUWAIT CITY (AP) — Opposition groups that include hard-line Islamists have taken control of Kuwait’s parliament, according to election results Friday, in a rise that could limit the hands of pro-Western rulers in dealings such as U.S. plans to boost its military presence in the oil-rich Gulf nation.
The conservative surge also left the 50-seat assembly without any women lawmakers.
A Kuwaiti citizen casts his vote at a polling station in Salwa, Kuwait City on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012. Officials said 400,296 Kuwaitis are registered to vote in the first parliamentary election since May 2009. (AP Photo/Gustavo Ferrari)
The outcome highlights the growing pressures on Kuwait’s ruling family after months of political upheavals that included charges of high-level corruption and outrage over crackdowns on anti-government demonstrations and other dissenting voices.
Although Kuwait’s rulers retain full control over key government posts, the country’s parliament is one of the few elected bodies in the Gulf that can challenge policies and bring no-confidence motions against officials. The strengthened opposition could now exert even more sway over the emir and his inner circle over issues ranging from foreign policies to social rules, such as proposals to keep women from competing in international sporting events.
Official results from Thursday‘s election gave 14 seats to Islamists that share many views with groups such as Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, which made strong gains in the first elections after the fall of former President Hosni Mubarak. Tribal-based lawmakers also took 20 seats in Kuwait – giving conservative-leaning blocs a clear majority.
At least nine seats went to liberals and seven to Shiite lawmakers, who had generally sided with the Sunni-led ruling family, according to official results.
But that still leaves only a minority of the seats firmly in the hands of pro-government lawmakers. The previous parliament was about evenly split between opposition groups and government allies.
The opposition gains also brought an unexpected blow to women, who had four seats in the parliament that was dissolved in December. None of the 23 women candidates – including the four incumbents – won seats.
Kuwait’s political tensions have roots long before the Arab Spring uprisings that began last year, but the rebellions against long-standing regimes had emboldened Kuwait groups on opposition ends of the spectrum: youth factions seeking more freedoms and Islamists critical of Western influence.
It’s unclear, however, how much the Islamists can push their agenda, which includes trying to make Islamic law the basis for all legal codes and challenging perceived un-Islamic events such as women sports competitions and public dancing.
Some hard-liners also have questioned Kuwait’s close ties with the U.S. military, which currently bases more than 20,000 troops in Kuwait and seeks to make the country its main site for American ground forces after the withdrawal from Iraq in December. Kuwait played a critical role as the staging area for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Kuwait’s emir, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, called the election after months of political showdowns that included opposition lawmakers demanding to question the prime minister over an alleged payoff scandal and protests that culminated in anti-government mobs storming parliament.
In late November, the emir selected Defense Minister Sheik Jaber Al Hamad Al Sabah as the new prime minister, replacing the long-serving Sheik Nasser Al Mohammad Al Sabah. He had survived several no-confidence votes in parliament, but was the target of a growing campaign for his dismissal over allegations that government officials funneled payoffs to bank accounts outside the country. He has denied the charges.
While the ballots were being counted, Kuwait’s interior minister issued an apparent warning to anti-government groups against staging more mass demonstrations.
“We are a state of institution,” said Sheik Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, according to the official Kuwait News Agency.
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le misanthrope
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 7:46pmTo be a woman in the arab world is one of the worst fates anyone could have. Just imagine your little daughters being treated like unclean, unintelligent, posessions to be “enjoyed” or beat, or killed as the men see fit.
Report Post »Rightsofman
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 4:31pmIs Panetta an inteligence agent for Iran? WTF!!??
Report Post »Truthbeliever2
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 3:22pmThis is what Democracy looks like….
Report Post »steveh931
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 11:51amThe Caliphate Jig Saw Puzzle has another piece in place.
Report Post »LukeAppling
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 11:32amOne by one Beck‘s predictions are coming true and Obama’s Arab spring is turning into a shariah summer. Nice job Obama and Hillary. Also kudos to the lamestream media for ignoring or misreporting the story.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 9:43pmLUKEAPPLING< so nice to hear that some people on the Blaze remember and still have respect for Beck. You are so right. Beck has given us more truthful information than ANYONE else. How quickly some here have turned on him. He always said not to take his word and form your own opinion. Well as far as I can see, he hasn't been wrong yet. Therefore my opinion remains that Beck isa the guy I turn to not against.
Report Post »beth2112
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 11:10amLooks like the latest member to join the coming Caliphate…
Report Post »scrapadapolis
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 8:39amWow another hit the head prediction from glenn,How does he do it?Glenn you are so right with all your foreseen conclusions that now after watching your segment about what will happen within the next year with the iran’s nuclear program I feel really scared.You were right when you said they wern’t failing the missle test they were blowing them up in midair.Great how do we protect ourselves against EMPs?I said along time ago this day of relying on so much electronics in our everyday lives will be Americas downfall.Bring back the landline,manual cash register,mechanical gas pumps,cars without computers,I think going back 40 years with backup mechanical devices will save us.
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 7:57amDoes this mean we get to increase foreign aide to Kuwait?
Report Post »Susie
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 7:45amI don’t think this is going to end well. Looks like another ‘royal family’ is about to bite-the-dust
Report Post »very soon.
Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 7:44amMakes you proud to know we can probably carve another notch , eh? We got thrown out of Iran 30 years ago, Went in to “liberate” Kuwait 25 years ago. Back into Iraq12 years ago, Libya 1 year ago. The Hilldabeast is trying to stick HER nose into Syria. Damn!!! EVERYBODY IN THE STATE DEPT! Take a Bow!! Helluvajob(sarc/off).
Report Post »Susie
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 7:54amThat’s right you dope. Every one of these countries has been given every opportunity to live peaceably with the rest of the world and given every tool to provide safety and prosperity for all their citizens. Yet they reject it for violence, war, terror, subjugation and the horrors of brutal Islamic regimes and you want to blame America for their problems ?
Report Post »I repeat. YOU DOPE !!!!!
Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 8:20am@Susie
Report Post »Bet you work in the state department! Name the countrys in the region that are supportive of US “policy”! Thiose people could care less about all the “opportunities and freedom”.they have been afforded. Looks to me like when you have only economic engine (oil), which by the way is owned by the state, and you do have to invest in infrastructre to profit from it. Whoops, almost forgot sand and dates. So where the hell is all this prosperity to come from. DING! The regime in power, to distribute the proceeds from the imports most valuable. In eschange for_DING! support
I’m the dope? Pull your little rose colored glasses off, take off your protected sexist blinders (if you know what they are. R curl up with your classical music on NPR, and just be freaking amazed at the future!
shogun459
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 10:23amMateytwo Barreett;
Report Post »Name one eh, ISRAEL.
PS about 50% of all the aid we send Israel is by contract required to be spent buying Military Equipment from the US.
So it funds our defense industry in lean times, when funding is cut in our military, like say NOW.
APROUDVETERAN
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 7:37amWhen is this country going to wise up and stop relying on the middle east for our oil? We have plenty of our own resources right here in the USA. We’re fools for continuing this dependency.
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 7:58amYou just want dirty air- and water!!! For God’s sake man! Think of the CHILDREN!!!
Report Post »Marcia
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 7:33amGlenn is right yet again. He is only one reading the tea leaves. We are in for a rough ride America – pray, prepare and stock up before it’s too late.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 7:06amThis is what Democracy looks like! Get out of the way and see the Muslim civil war. Bring our boys home and let them have at it.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 7:33amBaddoggy
Report Post »I agree – We freed them now they enslave their own as muslim trash.