Kuwait elects its first women MPs
Kuwait elects its first women MPs
By Diana Elias, Associated Press, in Kuwait City
Monday, 18 May 2009
Kuwaitis elected female parliament members for the first time and rejected a number of Islamic fundamentalist candidates this weekend in a vote that many hoped would bring stability to the country’s rocky political scene.
Women gained the right to vote and run for office in 2005 but failed in two previous elections to win seats in the 50-member parliament. Four women were elected in Saturday’s vote, according to official results read out by judges on state-owned television yesterday.
Kuwait has led the region in giving its people democratic rights. It has an elected parliament that wields considerable power, but the Cabinet is still chosen and led by a ruling family that holds ultimate power.
Radical religious politicians have fought against extending political rights to women. And at the same time, they have pushed for full implementation of Islamic law, or Sharia, in the oil-rich US ally.
“This is a message that the Kuwaiti society has started to move away from such movements that are based on hatred,” said a political commentator, Sami al-Nisf.
Many voters also said they were tired of years of political upheaval sparked by parliament’s frequent attacks on Cabinet members, which often lead to attempts to impeach ministers.
“Frustration with the past two parliaments pushed voters to seek change. And here it comes in the form of this sweeping victory for women,” said one of the women elected, Massouma al-Mubarak.
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