KUWAIT: Campaigning is in full force in Kuwait, two weeks ahead of parliamentary elections

Record ID: 345399

  • Title: KUWAIT: Campaigning is in full force in Kuwait, two weeks ahead of parliamentary elections
  • Date: 29th April 2008
  • Summary: VEHICLES ON STREET, BANNER READING "ROLA DASHTI"
  • Embargoed: 14th May 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kuwait
  • Country: Kuwait
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4EXRTTLVJX1AC0M38Q6V4L12E
  • Story Text: Campaigning for next month's parliamentary elections is underway in Kuwait, with some 380 candidates attracting supporters from across the state, despite a government decision this year to ban posters and billboards of candidates in the streets, in an attempt to reduce chaos.
    Across the Gulf State, candidates have set up centres ahead of the May 17 election, which many analyst believe will be dominated again by Islamists and tribes opposed to economic reforms, despite a new electoral system that seeks to break their grip on the assembly.
    The ruler, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, dissolved parliament in March to end a standoff with the government after tensions crippled economic reforms aimed at encouraging foreign investment in the oil exporting country.
    Fresh polls will be held on May 17 but under new rules that cut the number of electoral districts to five from the 25 that were contested in the last elections in 2006.
    The changes are meant to discourage vote-buying and force candidates to focus on long-term policy rather than the local demands of a few voters such as building a neighbourhood mosque.
    "Vote buying, vote buying, the candidate that wants to reach the parliament by buying votes is the same candidate who will sell our nation once he gets what he wants" said Mohammed al-Saqer, a candidate from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
    "(Our) hope is pinned on you, the people of Kuwait, to encourage (elect) the best and the most worthy as parliament members. Then, when you get them in, it will be in your hands to revive and improve Kuwait'', said Ali al-Rashed, another NDA candidate.
    Political parties are banned in Kuwait so parliamentary blocs tend to grow around tribal or religious loyalties rather than policy.
    The government wants to push through reforms, including a bill for the creation of a financial regulator, in an effort to roll back a public sector that employs some 90 percent of Kuwaitis and help diversify the economy away from oil. But it has long faced opposition from the 50-member parliament that has tended to focus on oversight of ministers and popular demands such as public sector salary raises.
    Some tribesmen and Islamists have also opposed opening up the economy to more foreign investment, blocking the involvement of oil majors in a multi-billion exploration project seen key to boosting oil output, the state's topmost source of income.
    Parliament has a history of challenging the government, unusual in a region dominated by ruling families.
    The government has ordered each candidate to have up to two campaigning centres, banning them from setting up billboards in the streets in attempt prevent traffic chaos. According to politicians, in previous years Kuwait's streets were crowded with campaign posters which often caused accidents on the roads.
    "When the number of candidates is 380 and they all spread their banners and campaign advertisements in the streets, then, no doubt there will be traffic jams and chaos in the streets, which had occurred in the past. In my opinion, I think this thing (banning wide-spread campaigning) is a positive move by the government", said former health minister, Maasoma al-Mubarak.
    Over 350,000 voters, a third of Kuwaitis, are expected to vote next month in what is politically one of the liveliest Gulf states.
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