KUWAIT CITY, May 16: Thousands of Kuwaitis on Saturday elected their second National Assembly in a year. Like the previous elections, the elderly cast their votes early with some of them arriving before the opening of polling stations, especially in the Second Constituency — Shamiya. Counting of the ballots started immediately after the close of voting. At the time of going to the press, four women were doing well in their constituencies. According to unofficial polling station results released by Kuwait TV, Dr Aseel Al-Awadhi and Dr Rola Dashti were 2nd and 6th respectively in the Third Constituency, while Dr Maasouma Al-Mubarak was leading in the First Constituency. Dr Salwa Al-Jassar was also doing well in the Second Constituency in 5th position.

With thousands of votes still to be counted, these positions could possibly change, according to KTV. Earlier, supporters of some candidates, including children, gathered outside the polling stations brandishing photos of their candidates and excerpts of electoral platforms, while others offered free meals and beverages. Bottles of water bearing the names of candidates were also distributed to voters. After casting his vote at a school in Shamiya, former Speaker of the Parliament Jassem Al-Khorafi vehemently denied allegations that the incoming Parliament will scrap the economic stimulus bill. He said there might be amendments on some clauses or inclusion of new clauses, but the next Parliament will not cancel the bill. He affirmed the local economy has started perking up and Kuwait’s income is higher than its expenditures.

Asked about his expectations, Al-Khorafi asserted “there are indications of strict adherence with the directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah for the voters to choose the best candidates, which will have a positive impact on the performance of the incoming National Assembly.” Hoping the country will soon move towards the right direction, especially in strengthening relations between the government and Parliament, Al-Khorafi said both authorities are two sides of the same coin, hence, the need for strong coordination to protect the welfare of Kuwait and its people. He believes the next Parliament will address a number of issues, work hard on winning back the trust of people, take wise decisions, and lay down a concrete development plan. He urged the next government to be strong and study laws thoroughly to avoid unnecessary conflicts.

Meanwhile, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, while visiting the electoral committees, said “Kuwait is currently witnessing free and honest elections.” Sheikh Nasser reminded people about Kuwait’s unique democracy. He congratulated the citizens for participating in this historic event to bring about change. He asked the people to unite in building and protecting the nation to regain its status as ‘pearl of the Gulf’.
In a related development, some polling stations in the Fifth Constituency were crowded during the early hours as voters arrived in throngs amidst the heavy presence of securitymen who were on hand to maintain peace and order.
Al-Ahmadi Governor Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Duaij confirmed in a press release that the concerned institutions, particularly the Ministry of Interior (MoI), were fully prepared for the elections.
 General Commander at the Fifth Constituency Major General Mosaed Al-Ghonaim revealed female police officers are assisting for the first time to ensure the safety of voters and prevent any untoward incident during the voting process. “A total of 30 policewomen with the rank of corporal and sergeant have been deployed to polling stations allocated for female voters in various constituencies. These officers are working in coordination with 480 female volunteers,” he added.
 Falah Al-Sawagh, a candidate from the same Constituency, is said to have engaged in a fight with securitymen at Abdullah Al-Ahmed High School in Jaber Al-Ali District when he refused to follow the security officers’ instruction to take a different route while exiting the polling station.
Several candidates also cast their votes early including First Constituency Dr Hassan Jowhar who stressed “this is the chance for electors to greatly contribute in ending the political standoff between the two authorities and propel our country towards development.”
 Dr Youssef Al-Zalzalah, also a candidate in the same Constituency, asserted the long queue of voters in some polling stations is a strong proof that people still trust the voting process, contrary to allegations on the low voter-turnout this year. He also believes women will finally succeed in their attempt to enter the Parliament.
 Another candidate from the same Constituency, Adnan AbdulSamad, hopes the next Parliament will be more progressive than its predecessors, which were marred by controversies and had short-lived tenures.
Commenting on the extreme statements uttered by some candidates during the campaign period, AbdulSamad said “pointless statements are common in any electoral race as candidates try to outdo each other in winning the hearts of voters.”
 Third Constituency candidate Aisha Al-Reshaid reportedly had an argument with the female supporters of former Islamist MP and candidate in the same Constituency Dr Ali Al-Omair, who were trying to discourage female voters from supporting female candidates on the pretext that Islam prohibits such acts.
 Commenting on the electors’ participation, Rola Dashti visited a number of polling stations and noticed differences in the flow of electors. She hopes more electors will cast their votes later in favor of candidates with a commitment to effect change and achieve national development.
Sunni Islamists, a major force in the outgoing Parliament, are expected to lose ground and women are seen as winning their first seats.
The ballot to elect 50 MPs was called after HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah dissolved the 10-month-old Parliament in March, triggering the third election since May 2006.
A total of 210 hopefuls are standing for Parliament for a four-year term, but analysts see little hope that the political deadlock will end, whatever the outcome.
Veteran opposition figure and former MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun alleged that influential people were interfering in the election, but stressed that “despite this, the future will be better.”
Local volunteers from Kuwait Transparency Society were allowed into some of the 94 polling stations to monitor the ballot. “We have not recorded any violations so far,” one monitor, Samar Al-Abduljader, told AFP.
Later, head of the society Salah Al-Ghazali charged that a majority of the monitors were not allowed into polling centres by the higher election commission.
Women voters said they were frustrated at the non-stop bickering that has paralysed politics.
“It’s frustrating and saddening to see political crises paralyse the country for years. It is very unfortunate that marginal issues have dominated development,” Nuha Al-Awadhi told AFP.
Artist Farida Al-Baqsami said that if this election does not solve disputes “then we really do not want this Parliament again.”
Both said they had voted for women and were confident that at least two will be elected while leading liberal candidate Rola Dashti said she expects that up to four women will enter Parliament.
Voters like retired civil servant Ibrahim Al-Attar are grumbling that the government clashes have hurt the economy, while the quality of public health care and other services deteriorates.
He voted for four female candidates, saying, “Men don’t have credibility anymore. We’re fed up with crises.”
“The future of Kuwait is at stake,” said Rola Dashti, one of 16 female candidates. The 50-seat legislature has never had a female member, though women were given the right to run for office in 2005.
“We’ve had our ups and downs. ... I think we learned from the downs and we’re ready to move ahead,” she said.
Political analyst Ayed Al-Mannah said if Kuwaitis vote for the best qualified candidates rather than members of their sect or tribe, “we’ll have a more reasonable Parliament that is willing to work with the executive branch.”
Kuwait has no officially recognized political parties, and its Cabinets — always chosen by the ruling family and headed by one of its members — do not need to the legislature’s approval.
The new assembly will have to vote on a $5 billion economic stimulus package seen as crucial to helping the financial sector of the country overcome the global financial crisis.
The measures were approved in March by the caretaker cabinet.
The measures must also be approved by the new Assembly.
There are no political parties in Kuwait, the world’s fourth largest oil exporter, but conservative Islamists and tribal figures who have opposed government economic plans and pressed ministers over accountability are expected to dominate again, even if they do lose some votes amid growing public frustration.
“The deadlock will continue because the champions who caused the deadlock last time will come back,” said Abu Khalid, a voter in his 60s, while waiting his turn to cast his vote.
Um Ahmad, a female voter, echoed those fears: “I know it will be worse than the last Parliament.”
“God willing there will be a change in the next Assembly, and women will make it. I voted for women because they were convincing in their campaigns,” Refaat Abul Hassan, a female voter in her 50s said after casting her vote.
“People don’t want to vote, everyone is rejecting the deadlock and want change,” said Etab Khalaf, a voter in her 40s.
Analysts expect Islamists to lose some ground in the polls, which could boost liberal candidates and women’s chances of winning a seat, but that may not be enough to end the deadlock. “Islamists could lose some seats but it won’t be enough to change the general mood in Parliament,” political analyst Shafiq Al-Ghabra said. “The ball will be in the government’s court again to move forward with development.” Although its political system resembles Western democracy more closely than that of any other nation in the Gulf Arab region, Kuwait has fallen behind its neighbours who have transformed themselves into commercial, financial and tourist centres that attract foreign investors. By contrast, Parliament has blocked many of Kuwait’s major projects and the state was forced to rescue a bank last year.

Deputies accuse the government of corruption and oppose trimming back the huge welfare state. They have insisted on using their rights to demand ministers appear before Parliament for public scrutiny. The government, dominated by the ruling Al Sabah family, baulks at allowing ministers to be questioned. The government resigned in March to avoid Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, a nephew of the ruler, having to appear before parliamentarians for questioning. This prompted the ruler to dissolve Parliament and call new polls in an effort to end the stalemate, as Kuwait’s rulers have done repeatedly in the 45-year history of the elected assembly. Kuwaiti politics both repels and inspires fellow Gulf Arabs. In no other Gulf state is the ruling dynasty’s power as diluted by popular political participation as it is in Kuwait.

Yet other Gulf rulers look askance at the system while some voters say the rowdy Parliament sets a bad example, holding back development they see implemented by decree around the Gulf. “We want reforms, we want the new MPs to act as they speak,” said Wafaa Sadeq, a voter in her 40s. Minister of Information, Justice Minister and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah reiterated on Saturday that the Information Ministry was keenly following all broadcast of satellite channels and print media and would refer all violators to the legal bodies concerned. Speaking to KUNA while touring a polling station at Anas bin Malik Secondary School in Khaitan, of the Third Constituency, prior to the closing of the polling stations, the minister said that Kuwait has been keen to make this democratic festival a success.

He added that the Cabinet of ministers has formed a committee of various state ministries to simplify vote cast procedures, in addition to various audio and visual media bodies tasked with broadcasting this even for viewers inside and outside Kuwait. He praised efforts of the various Kuwaiti media bodies in transmitting this event with clarity for all viewers and listeners wishing all the best. The minister also spoke about the large number of Arab and foreign news correspondents who came to Kuwait to cover this event, stressing the ministry’s keenness to make their coverage easy. Technological development and the communication revolution, as well as information made available on the internet and satellite channels, are sending mixed messages to voters and often mislead them.

Academicians told KUNA that surveys that forecast results based on polls — by phone or through online votes — negatively affected voters and did not properly reflect the situation in the Constituency. Mass communication professor at Kuwait University, Dr Ahmad Al-Sharif, told KUNA that these surveys were often not sufficiently studied and were not credible, adding that they could “trick” voters into thinking that certain candidates had better chances than others. However, Dr Yousef Al-Failkawi said that internet polls could have a positive impact should they be based on solid information and reached through correct scientific methodology. He warned of websites that appeared to be legitimate, but where polls were actually doctored to promote one candidate over another.

Meanwhile, a manager of one of the websites told KUNA that internet websites played the role of mediator between candidates and voters, and were means to promote media campaigns. Residents of New Jahra, of the fourth Constituency, welcomed His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah on Saturday with cheers. Sheikh Nasser was touring the polling stations in the area with Interior Minster Lt Gen Sheikh Jaber Al-Khalid Al-Sabah (ret.) and Minister of Information, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah. Children sang national songs as His Highness Sheikh Nasser entered one of the polling stations, while the Interior Minister was keen to shake hands with a number of policewomen, who were taking part in securing the polling process for the first time in Kuwait’s history.

Outside the gates of schools, female supporters of campaigners — wearing badges bearing the photos and slogans of their candidates — were up and about from the early hours of the morning, and their children were also on location to help out. They distributed water, soft drinks and snacks to voters. The scene inside the schools was much calmer, where security personnel imposed order and voters cooperated with heads of electoral committees. Male campaigners, however, were more serious and stern, and order was in place while encouraging voters to cast their ballots as early as possible.