Kuwaitis to go to polls to choose new lawmakers

People in Kuwait are set to elect a new parliament weeks after the old assembly was dissolved amid a dispute between lawmakers and the government over increased fuel prices.

The Kuwaitis will head to the polls on Saturday to choose 50 legislators from among some 300 candidates.

The election campaign has seen heated debates on economy among other issues such as political reform and civil rights.

Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al Sabah, the 87-year-old ruler of Kuwait, dissolved the old parliament in October, citing “security challenges” caused by parliamentary debates over subsidies.

The decision came after members of the legislature pressured the government over fuel price hikes of around 80 percent.

The government argued the increase was part of its austerity measures required to plug a budget deficit resulting from low oil prices.

The upcoming snap polls are seen as crucial for the political future of the oil-rich Persian Gulf kingdom as they will see the return of opposition groups after a four-year boycott.

Political analyst Anwar al-Rasheed predicted that “between 70 percent and 90 percent of the outgoing lawmakers will not be re-elected because the voters are very upset with their performance.”

He said the dissolved chamber adopted a host of highly controversial and repressive laws, including restrictions on online freedom.

Kuwait, which sits on seven percent of the world’s proven crude reserves, is totally dependent on its oil revenues to bill its expenses.

The government partially lifted subsidies on fuel in September, causing the political dispute in the country.

SS