Opposition up in arms to down new Assembly – Former liberal MPs challenge one-vote decree
KUWAIT: The opposition reiterated yesterday that it will continue with street protests until the newly-elected National Assembly is scrapped and the controversial one-vote decree is withdrawn. A day after Saturday's controversial polls, organizers of the three big demonstrations before the elections said on their Twitter account yesterday they plan to stage a new protest but without setting a date or time for it to press for scrapping the Assembly. "We announce the launch of a new phase of protests and processions against the forces of corruption … and aggression against the sovereignty of the nation and its dignity," said a statement on the Twitter. "It is an irreversible peaceful battle until the nation restores its sovereignty and dignity," the organizers said.
The opposition held an emergency meeting after the ballots closed on Saturday and declared that the election was unconstitutional and that the new Assembly is illegitimate. Former MPs and opposition figures have vowed to continue using all peaceful and constitutional tools to bring down the Assembly. The opposition also said that based on their monitoring, the voter turnout was a meagre 26.7 percent whereas the Information Ministry website reported a 38.8 percent turnout. The ministry later yesterday said that turnout was 40.3 percent based on a report by an international observer team that monitored the Kuwaiti election. Participation in the past three elections was about 60 percent. The ministry praised the Kuwaiti people for voting despite repeated calls for boycott.
In Saturday's election, 17 candidates from the Shiite minority won seats for the first time ever. Shiites more than doubled their strength compared to seven seats in the 2012 scrapped Assembly and nine seats in 2009. Three women were also elected for the second time while Sunni Islamists, who held 23 seats in 2012 Assembly, were reduced to just four. The three largest bedouin tribes, the Awazem, Mutair and Ajman, which together have a population of over 430,000, won only one seat compared to an average of 17 in previous assemblies. The other seats were bagged by smaller tribes which got the opportunity to win seats with the new one-vote system.
The new Assembly must meet within two weeks of announcing the results officially. This will be made by the newly-established National Election Commission. The Cabinet delayed a planned resignation yesterday until the Commission announces the results. Under Kuwaiti law, the Cabinet must resign after every election to pave the way for forming a new Cabinet. "The election result is the foundation for a new start of development and cooperation between the legislative and executive powers to advance Kuwait and all its people," Information Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah said.
Four former liberal MPs meanwhile yesterday submitted a challenge against the one-vote decree at the constitutional court, saying the decree breached the constitution. Another challenge is planned today by former liberal MP Saleh Al-Mulla through lawyer Abdullah Al-Ahmad. Ruling on the two challenges may take months and may result in rendering the new National Assembly unconstitutional. "It is a pro-government parliament. Now the government can do all the things it wanted to, which it said it was prevented from doing. The question now is, will it do it?" said Kuwait University professor of political science Shafeeq Ghabra. "While it has a parliament that does not oppose it, there is a population which is on the opposition's side," he said, referring to the turnout and protests. "The formula has got more complicated."
Member of the scrapped 2012 Assembly Faisal Al-Yahya said yesterday that the new Assembly will not survive for a long time and called for dissolving it quickly. He said on his Twitter Account that the Assembly does not enjoy any constitutional legitimacy and does not truly represent the will of the nation. He said the results of the unconstitutional election will be a major turning point in Kuwait's political history and will furnish the popular movement with a new momentum. Yahya also stressed that regardless of whatever the government does, "it will not succeed in covering up the political and popular success of the boycott". Former liberal MP Abdulrahman Al-Anjari called for focusing on the main issues of legalizing political parties, an elected government, rotation of power and the independence of judiciary.
"We will continue with our national and peaceful protests under the umbrella of the constitution to bring the downfall of the new parliament," Islamist opposition leader and former MP Faisal Al-Mislem said. "We will use all peaceful and constitutional tools, including demonstrations and gatherings," said Mislem. "The majority of the Kuwaiti people sent a direct and transparent message to the Amir … rejecting the new measures adopted by the government and calling for the new Assembly to be abolished," he said. Yesterday, HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the crown prince and prime minister congratulated the newly-elected lawmakers. But a majority of the Kuwaiti people heeded opposition calls to boycott the election on Saturday, "which is evident from the fact that voter turnout was less than 27 percent," Mislem argued.
By B Izaak, Staff Writer and Agencies
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