Parliamentary Poll in Kuwait : Challenges for Islam

- By Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

I – The Crisis & Vote

On 16 May, in less than three years, voters in the oil rich state of Kuwait headed to the third election triggered by the cabinet's resignation following a row with parliament. The Emir, Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who rules the nation with a cabinet, dissolved the previous National Assembly in March because it wanted to question the prime minister appointed by him about alleged corruption- a common feature affecting the Islamic world as well. The whole Sheikh Nasser government resigned in March, saying they could no longer work with MPs who "interfered" with their work. It is the second resignation of the cabinet in six months. 

Encouraged by the Western powers and media, the Kuwaiti opposition MPs were eager to question Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah, a nephew of the emir, over his role in a range of issues, including allegations of government corruption and mishandling of economic policy, claims that he mismanaged ministries and misused public money, but, rather than facing questioning, the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser handed in his resignation. As head of state and the country's highest political authority, the Emir stepped in, dissolved parliament and called new elections. He also addressed the nation and delivered a scathing critique of what he saw as abuse by some MPs of their right to question the prime minister, which led to a "distortion of Kuwaiti freedom and democracy". Opposition says the move to resign was designed to avert questioning of the prime minister in parliament about alleged misuse of funds. 

Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah's decision this time was taken after a familiar crisis crippled the country's political system. Under Kuwaiti law, the emir had the power to appoint or dismiss a cabinet, accept or reject the resignation. The resignation of Kuwait ’s government was accepted on 16 March 2009 by the ruling Emir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah who also has asked the government to continue dealing with urgent matters. 

Sheikh Nasser has been under constant political pressure ever since he became prime minister in February, 2006. He has been forced by MPs, under western influences, to resign four times and reshuffle his cabinets on two other occasions. The most recent of his five cabinets was appointed in January. No prime minister in the Gulf state has ever allowed himself to be questioned. In March, three Islamist MPs from the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM) filed requests for the prime minister, Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, a nephew of the emir, to face questioning by parliament over policy decisions and alleged financial irregularities at his office. The question session was set for 18 March, but the cabinet resigned two days earlier as it has done when faced with this situation in the past. The emir consequently dissolved parliament and called early elections. Since then, several former MPs have publicly stated that in-fighting in the ruling family was behind the requests for the prime minister to be questioned. During campaigning, anti-government feeling among some candidates has moved to a higher level - two people were arrested for criticizing the ability of the ruling al-Sabah family to govern. Although the Kuwaiti parliament has the strongest powers among Gulf legislatures, criticizing the royal family is seen as a step too far.

The resulting political intrigue and its economic effects are the main talking points of the election. If regular elections are a sign of a functioning “democracy”, politics in Kuwait are in excellent health. Since 1991, Kuwaitis have voted six times - in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2006 and 2008. Many voters in the tiny desert state are fed up of the stalemate the intrigue has produced and the serious threats they see it bringing to Kuwait ’s oil dependent economy. Political infighting in Kuwait is nothing new - it has been the mainstay of politics in the Gulf's oldest parliament for decades, but this election is being described by some as the fiercest they've ever known. Over 720,000 Kuwaitis are eligible to vote. All men and women over 21 are allowed to vote with the exception of male members of the police and armed forces, but if naturalized they must have been citizens for at least 20 years. Some 384,790 Kuwaitis have registered to vote in this election. Turnout was said to be modest in the morning heat and dust but had picked up by evening to end at an estimated 60%. The majority of Kuwait ’s 2.9-million population is made up of expatriates, who do not have a vote. Sunni and Shia’ Islamist candidates won fewer seats in the last election in 2006. Results for the Kuwaiti parliamentary election on 18 May 2008 showed strong gains for Islamic groups. Sunni and Shia Islamists won nearly half of the 50 seats in the National Assembly, which was dissolved after a stand-off between the cabinet and MPs. The whole government resigned in March, saying they could no longer work with MPs who "interfered" with their work. Economic concerns dominated the poll in the oil-rich Gulf emirate.

The economy featured high on the candidates' agendas with many Kuwaitis clamoring for a solution to the financial crisis and a halt to rising prices. Rising food and commodity prices were at the top of the agenda for many Kuwaitis ahead of the vote. The oil price is denominated in a weak dollar but about a third of imports are paid for with the strong Euro, affecting ordinary people on a daily basis. Rising food and commodity prices were at the top of the agenda for many Kuwaitis ahead of Saturday's vote. Kuwait may sit on 10% of the world's oil reserves - a commodity currently selling at record prices - but as a small desert state it is obliged to import most of its food. The housing shortage, deficiencies in the health and education sectors and the fight against corruption are also key issues, but candidates are highlighting an end to the political chaos caused by the disputes between parliament and ministers. The Kuwait Election Commission, which oversees the elections, promised to ensure fair and free elections. The pan-Arab election monitoring group, Elections Network in the Arab Region (ENAR), warned of widespread vote-buying ahead of the poll, despite an order from the interior minister for officials to "clamp down on all negative aspects that could tarnish the image of democracy in Kuwait ". The Kuwait Transparency Society and ENAR monitored the elections. The election campaign appears to have run smoothly but three candidates were arrested on charges of undermining the authority of the emir and allegedly "criticizing" the ruling family. Former MP Daifallah Buramia was detained following public speeches in which he said that the defence minister, a member of the ruling family, was "not fit" to become the next prime minister.

Muslims, especially in Arab world, with personal ambitions seek western shelter to achieve their corrupt goals. Like in democracies, where premiers are appointed by the presidents or equals, and regardless of the election results, it is the Emir who appoints the prime minister, and critics say that this lies at the heart of the problem. Nasser al-Abdali, the head of the Kuwait Society for Development of Democracy, said that "'fundamental change" is needed to the system in Kuwait . "The constitution must be revamped to allow a true parliamentary system in which the government is elected," he said. "If nothing happens, we will return to square one after the elections and have the same crises." West wants to dominate and control the entire Mideast political systems, apart from economies, through Kuwait parliament activities. Once Kuwait , now under Indo-US control, is set “right”, the next western stop would in Saudi Arabia . India also wants “democracy, black-money and corruption” to dictate terms to Arabs and other Islamic nations. Besides terrorism plank, it is this aspect that binds terror India with fascist Israel and global terrorist USA .

Exclusive Welfare of all Muslims in the country is not the motto of Kuwait . Controlling the economic resources, the al-Sabahs are not ready to loosen the reins of power - they still hold the post of prime minister as well as the key defense, interior and foreign affairs portfolios, but the west inspired MPs want to siphon off some resources and want the politics to lead to a "distortion of Kuwaiti freedom and democracy". However, parliamentary pressure to investigate and question ministers on deals has previously seen the cabinet canceling or delaying multi-billion dollar international projects. Social development plans have been postponed because of the ongoing impasse between government and MPs. The dissolution of parliament two months ago has meant no legislation being passed - including a financial stimulus package aimed at countering the current global crisis.

II- Kuwait kingdom & Issues

Kuwait was the first Arab country in the Gulf to have an elected parliament. Moves to change the male-dominated political structure culminated in the granting of full political rights to women in 2005. In 1999 the country's then ruler, Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah, issued a decree giving women full political rights, but the move was narrowly defeated in the National Assembly. In May 2005 parliament gave women the right to vote and stand as candidates in elections for the 50-seat National Assembly.

Economic concerns dominated the poll in the oil-rich Gulf emirate. US-led western terror forces, focused on energy resources in Mideast, have hatched hidden plan to make Iraq invade Kuwait so that they could invade Kuwait and control the energy resources and squander the resources and engineer rampant corruption so that Arabs become bonded agents of the West. The plan was executed perfectly and resources are now under US control in complete accuracy while Saddam was got murdered for his anti-American stand by Iraqis themselves.

Kuwait is a small, oil-rich country nestling at the top of the Gulf, flanked by large or powerful neighbors - Saudi Arabia to the south, Iraq to the north and Iran to the east. Its oil fields were first exploited in the 1930s, and since the development of the petroleum industry after World War II and independence in 1961, oil has dominated the economy, making up around 90% of export revenues. In 1991, the country was the scene of a massive US-led international terror campaign to oust Iraqi forces, which had invaded, presumably on US advice, the year before. Operation Desert Storm saw their eventual removal, but Kuwait ’s infrastructure was left in bad shape and had to be rebuilt. Oil exports stopped for a time. Twelve years later, Kuwait played host to another massive military presence as thousands of soldiers massed on the Iraqi border for the US-led campaign in 2003 to disarm and oust the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. It remains an important transit route for forces and civilians moving in and out of Iraq .

Kuwait has been ruled by the Sabah family for the past 250 years. The emir, currently Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, has the last say in political matters. He has the power to override or dissolve parliament, and call elections. Sabah family members occupy key cabinet posts such as those of prime minister, defence, interior and foreign affairs ministers. The National Assembly, the first elected parliament in the Gulf, was established in 1963 and has 50 elected seats. In addition members of the cabinet serve as ex officio members. They only differ from elected ones in that they may not vote in no-confidence motions or serve on parliamentary committees. The National Assembly (Majlis al-Umma), considered to be one of the most powerful parliaments in the Gulf states, is often at odds with the cabinet and the last parliament was no exception.

Kuwait was the first Arab country in the Gulf to have an elected parliament. Moves to change the male-dominated political structure culminated in the granting of full political rights to women in 2005. In 1999 the country's then ruler, Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah, issued a decree giving women full political rights, but the move was narrowly defeated in the National Assembly. In May 2005 parliament gave women the right to vote and stand as candidates in elections for the 50-seat National Assembly. Kuwaitis are proud of their democratic record. They live in the first Gulf state to have had a parliament and it remains the national assembly with the sharpest teeth. Many Kuwaitis take pride in the fact that Kuwait was, in 1962, the first gulf state to adopt a parliamentary democracy and a constitution. The recurring crises, however, suggest that as it stands, Kuwait ’s version of parliamentary democracy perpetuates deadlock which only the Emir can break, until the next crisis comes along. Although the emir is able to dissolve parliament and the introduction of women standing and voting was relatively late in Gulf terms, MPs have more of a voice than their counterparts elsewhere in the region.

Kuwaitis are proud of their democratic record. They live in the first Gulf state to have had a parliament and it remains the national assembly with the sharpest teeth. Although the emir is able to dissolve parliament and the introduction of women standing and voting was relatively late in Gulf terms, MPs have more of a voice than their counterparts elsewhere in the region. Saturday's election was designed differently to those previously. The number of constituencies has been reduced from 25 smaller ones, which varied considerably in size and electoral roll, to just five large ones in order to reduce the possibilities of vote-buying and voting along tribal and sectarian lines. This time voters made up to four choices each from inevitably long lists of candidates, making the process at the voting booths more complicated and harder to predict.

In 2006, Kuwait passed a new election law reducing the number of constituencies from 25 to five in an effort to discourage voting along tribal and sectarian lines and reduce vote-buying. Each person may vote for up to four candidates in their constituency. The 10 candidates with the most votes in each of the five constituencies win a seat. Voters on 16 May will choose from 210 candidates, 16 of whom are women. This is a drop from the 2008 election, when there were 380 candidates, of whom 28 were women. Representatives are elected for a four-year term.

Many voters in the tiny desert state are fed up of the stalemate the intrigue has produced and the serious threats they see it bringing to Kuwait ’s oil dependent economy. Political infighting in Kuwait is nothing new - it has been the mainstay of politics in the Gulf's oldest parliament for decades, but this election is being described by some as the fiercest they've ever known. The number of constituencies has been reduced from 25 smaller ones, which varied considerably in size and electoral roll, to just five large ones in order to reduce the possibilities of vote-buying and voting along tribal and sectarian lines. This time voters made up to four choices each from inevitably long lists of candidates, making the process at the voting booths more complicated and harder to predict. Political parties are banned, but a number of political "lists" have been allowed to function without restriction. Officially, candidates for the assembly nominate themselves and run as independents, but the following lists are putting up candidates: Islamic Salafi Alliance (ISA), Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM, National Islamic Alliance (NIA), Peace and Justice Alliance, Popular Action Bloc, Kuwait Democratic Forum ,etc. Most of the Bedouin tribes have held primary elections to choose their candidates. The Awazem tribe did not and as a result their vote is expected to be split several ways.

Even though the Muslim rulers are not quite enthusiastic about any Sharia’, the Islamizaton movement is sweeping the Islamic world, so is Kuwait, but the bulk of the ruling elite enjoining the fruits of benefits are encouraged by the western powers to kill the movement that in turn has resulted in retaliation from the Islamic movement. Kuwait has faced a recent spate of militant violence. Security forces have clashed with Islamist militants, some of whom are alleged to have links with the so-called al-Qaeda. The authorities also keep saying “extremist” groups have plotted attacks on Western targets. It has become a sheer practice of the anti-Islamic forces and their nasty media to block any Islamizaton movement by as fashionably calling the activists as “terrorists”. But time will prove these anti-Islamic outfits wrong and themselves as real terrorists.

The 10 leading candidates from each of Kuwait ’s five electoral districts are elected to the 50-seat parliament. Currently there are a quite a lot western educated “free” Muslim women in Kuwait as well and western powers demand suitable posts in government as well for their produces. Western media, while blocking poll results cunningly, have blasted only the news that the US-educated Aseel al-Awadhi and Rola Dashti were among winners in the third district. No one need any crash course to understand how the CIA functions and penetrates into every nook and corner of the world by pushing through their candidates. This time, women have won four seats in Kuwait ’s parliament, the first women to do so in the Gulf Arab state's history, considered by the western anti-Islamic forces plus media lords as a blow to Islamists who have long dominated the assembly. Western nations, engineering techniques to make Gulf nations subservient to them by following their traditions and politics in place of Islamic Sharia’, have been for decades making strenuous effort sot make the Islamic world essentially anti-Islamic and promote the ideals of the west.  The news became the topmost item of the nasty western media that are too “concerned” about “democracy” in Islamic world and arrogantly refused to give the other particulars of the poll but only selective on women. In fact the west sheds lot crocodile tears on the “plight” of Muslims.. Kuwaiti women were first given the right to vote and run for office in 2005 but failed to win any seats in the 2006 and 2008 elections, held in this conservative Muslim country where politics is still widely seen as a man's domain. Former health minister Massouma al-Mubarak, who became the first Kuwaiti woman minister in 2005, and another female candidate, Salwa al-Jassar, also secured seats in parliament. For a change, Western media even took care to publish good shaped photos of women. Western media are known for publishing Muslims in bad colors just make them look like terrorists. (So are the Hindu media in India )

 III- Post Script: Which way for Islamic world?

In the absence of any ISO (Islamic Security Organisation) to shield the global Muslims and Islamic world form the outrageous attack from anti-Islamic forces and media, Islam is defamed while the Muslims are being insulted and injured world over. By using terror and “democracy", the West shamelessly dictates terms to Islamic nations particularly in oil rich Gulf region and effectively pressure them to imbibe the western democratic traditions which the Arabs carry out faithfully in lieu of Islamic Sharia’. The Terrorism season invented by the west is being used to maximum to bully them all almost simultaneously. Both Indian and Israeli state terrorists support that for their own reaosns.

Like in the entire Islamic word, Kuwaiti politics repels and not inspires fellow Gulf Arabs, because the anti-Islamic nations keep fueling the rift. In no other Gulf state is the ruling dynasty's power as diluted by popular political participation as it is in Kuwait . Although it’s political system resembles Western democracy more closely than that of any other nation in the Gulf Arab region, Kuwait has fallen behind its neighbors who have transformed themselves into commercial, financial and tourist centers 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. The reason Kuwaitis are being called back to the polls so frequently is that the underlying reason for the crises is never addressed. The public grilling process, which could lead to a vote of confidence in the prime minister, is seen by many as too humiliating for a member of the ruling family. From a legal perspective the MPs, however aggressive in their questioning, are within their constitutional rights. But the force of tradition and respect for the ruling family stops the process of questioning in its tracks. Observers speak of two possible solutions to this problem.

The first is installing a "popular government", a term used in Kuwait to describe a cabinet without members of the ruling family that would end the sensitivity about holding prime ministers and ministers to account. The second solution, diametrically opposed to the first, is for the Emir to appoint the crown prince as prime minister. The crown prince, after all, is not merely a member of the ruling family, but also the future ruler of the country.. The Emir who will appoint the prime minister and critics say that this lies at the heart of the problem. Nasser al-Abdali, the head of the Kuwait Society for Development of Democracy, told the AFP news agency that "'fundamental change" is needed to the system in Kuwait . "The constitution must be revamped to allow a true parliamentary system in which the government is elected," he said. "If nothing happens, we will return to square one after the elections and have the same crises."

Political rows over the past three years in OPEC's fourth-largest oil producer forced five governments to resign and led to the dissolution of three parliaments, sparking calls for a reform of Kuwaiti democracy. Many say the elections will not lead to the desired political stability. "The next Parliament will not complete its term" of four years, a self-proclaimed democracy defender Abdali said, adding that "deep fundamental changes are required in Kuwait ’s political system and democracy, including a new constitution." Kuwait's general election change many faces but is unlikely to heal years of lingering disputes between MPs and government or achieve durable political stability, Islamists, who were a major force in the outgoing Parliament, are expected to lose strength but will maintain their power. The election will not end political squabbling as the causes that stirred crises remain unresolved.

The al-Sabahs, fearing anarchy, are not ready to loosen the reins of power - they still hold the post of prime minister as well as the key defense, interior and foreign affairs portfolios. Arab world hasn’t yet learned the western democratic manipulations. A total of 210 candidates were running in the election for the 50-seat Parliament which enjoys monitoring and legislative powers but cannot unseat a government, although it can question ministers and vote them out of office. 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. Kuwait was, in 1962, the first gulf state to adopt a parliamentary democracy and a constitution. The recurring crises, however, suggest that as it stands, Kuwait ’s version of parliamentary democracy perpetuates deadlock which only the Emir can break, until the next crisis comes along. The main issue that could trigger the first crisis in the next Parliament is the multi-billion-dollar economic stimulus bill that was stalled by former MPs but issued and implemented by the government after dissolving Parliament. Under Kuwaiti law, the bill must be sent to the new Parliament which has the power to reject it. Another issue is premier’s post. In recent years it witnessed calls for the legalization of political parties, which remain banned although political groups act as de facto parties. There have also been calls for a commoner to head the government, always led until now by a member of the ruling family.

Elections promote corruption and all sorts of socials and economic evils, ensured by the western systems. Islamic world should shun such nefarious designs to stay in power at any cost and instead they find worth replacements on a regular basis. They need not look to the west that plays the notorious democracy themes to loot the Islamic world by invasions. Islamic traditions teach the Muslim leaders and rulers could adopt consensus as the key deciding factor in choosing representatives but honesty should be the chief tool in such selection process.

The Western powers and countries like India have successfully derailed the Islamizaton processes of the Islamic world. Islam and global Muslims have been for years now under virtual threat from all sorts of elements, above all the anti-Islamic outfits while Muslim elites are learning newer lesions from the Western and eastern pseudo “democracies”. The Western powers play havoc in Islamic world, more so in Arab world in various disguises trying to dictate terms to them and pressuring the leaders there to release more resources for use in West. The Kuwaiti parliamentary election in 2008 showed strong gains for Islamic groups with Sunni and Shia’ Islamists having won nearly half of the 50 seats in the National Assembly. But the West is not happy with that. Parliamentary pressure to investigate and question ministers on deals has previously seen the cabinet canceling or delaying multi-billion dollar international projects. Social development plans have been postponed because of the ongoing impasse between government and MPs. The dissolution of parliament two months ago has meant no legislation being passed - including a financial stimulus package aimed at countering the current global crisis. It is always better for Islam rulers to consider sharing power with honest Muslims without letting the outsiders, westerners in particular, to intervene to impose their rules there. The “western gentlemen” are keen to use both democracy plank and the oppositions to cripple the Islamic world.

The first step for the Islamic world to face the present west-inspired crisis would be to come together to formulate, without looking to the West, credible  strategies to implement Islamic Sharia in a step by step approach and begin establishing truly Islamic societies without fearing the anti-Islamic nations led by the global terrorist USA & allies.                                                                        

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Yours Sincerely,

Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

Columnist & Independent Researcher in World Affairs,

The only Indian to have gone through entire India, a fraud and terror nation,
South Asia.