Kuwaitis protest voting changes ahead of poll

Thousands take to streets in protest of law that allows them to pick only one candidate rather than four in Dec 1 poll.

Kuwaitis protest vote change
Some protesters are also calling for a government that is elected rather than appointed by the al-Sabah family[AFP]

Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of Kuwait City in a peaceful opposition-led rally against new voting rules.

Sunday’s protests at a square opposite the parliament come ahead of elections on December 1.

The enthusiastic crowds chanted “the people want the repeal of the law,” ordered by Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah to change the voting system ahead of the second parliamentary poll this year.

“The law aims at preventing Kuwaiti popular participation in governance… and to establish autocratic rule and exploit the country’s resources,” Khaled al-Sultan, former MP, told cheering protesters.

Recent demonstrations against the electoral changes, ordered by Kuwait’s ruler last month, have led to clashes between
protesters and police as marches spread out of the areas usually designated for rallies.

Hundreds of Kuwaiti men streamed into the square where opposition leaders gave speeches from a stage to protesters, many sitting on carpets drinking tea as others sang Kuwaiti songs.

Hundreds of women sat in a separate area of the audience.

Helicopters circled overhead and police lined the streets around the square which were clogged with traffic.

Organisers estimated the gathering at around 200,000 people, which would be the largest rally in Kuwait’s history, but onlookers said the number was around 50,000.

Comprised of tribal and liberal legislators, as well as youth groups, the opposition says the new voting rules are an
attempt to skew the parliamentary election in favour of pro-government candidates.

“The amendment of the law is a breach of the constitution… Today, we are here to defend our constitution,” Mishari al-Ossaimi, former MP said.

Sunday also marked the 50th anniversary of Kuwait becoming the first Arab state in the Gulf to issue a constitution in November 1962.

Opposition politicians held a majority in the last parliament which was fraught with legislative deadlock and dissolved by a court ruling in June.

One candidate

Under the new rules, each voter chooses only one candidate instead of four, a move the opposition says will prevent its
candidates winning the majority they had in the last vote.

They say the four vote system better enabled candidates to form political allegiances during the election campaign by
recommending supporters cast additional ballots for their allies.

Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, the 83-year-old emir who has led the country since 2006, has said the new rules are aimed at preserving national unity and warned last week there would be no leniency for threats to national security.

Although Kuwait, an OPEC member and United States ally, allows more dissent than most other Gulf states, in recent weeks it has begun to emphasise the limits of its tolerance and has arrested small groups of people at the protests.

Police used teargas and smoke bombs to disperse thousands of Kuwaitis protesting beside a motorway on November 4.

In October, two demonstrations were also disbanded by police.

“We have to be aware of the growing dangers in the region and must be aware that this shrapnel is falling around us,”
Sheikh Sabah said on Saturday in a speech marking the fiftieth anniversary of Kuwait’s constitution, published by state news agency KUNA.

He said Kuwaitis should cast their ballot as a “national duty” and called for unity.

There are 397 candidates for the 50-seat parliament according to the election affairs directorate, which closed registrations on Friday.

Kuwait’s opposition has urged a boycott of the election to select the country’s fifth parliament in six years.

Some protesters are also calling for a government that is elected rather than appointed by the al-Sabah family, which has
ruled Kuwait for more than 250 years.

They also want to see the creation of political parties, which are currently banned, meaning legislators form blocs based
on policy and family ties.

Source: News Agencies