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Journalism of Courage
Kuwaitis elect a new parliament tomorrow after a highly charged campaign, with analysts predicting a strong showing by reformists that will set the stage for a showdown with the government. Women will make history in the election both as first-time voters and candidates, one year after winning political rights.
Twenty-eight women are among 253 hopefuls vying for the 50 seats of the 11th Parliament to be elected since the Gulf Arab state embraced a parliamentary system in 1962.
Some 60 to 70 Opposition candidates are standing. They include 28 of 29 outgoing MPs locked in a bitter dispute with the government that led to the dissolution of Parliament on May 21.
‘‘I believe most of the outgoing Opposition MPs, if not all, will be re-elected, in addition to a number of other reformists,’’ said Ibrahim al Hadban, political science professor at Kuwait university.
Outgoing MP and candidate Hassan Jowhar predicted the Opposition would win 35 seats, while Nasser al Abdali, head of the Kuwaiti Society for the Development of Democracy, expected them to take between 30 and 35.
Hundreds of rallies attracted record crowds, mainly because of intense campaigning by women and young people who had no input in previous polls.
