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Islamists win big in Kuwait polls

Kuwait, February 3, 2012

Kuwait's Islamist-led opposition made significant gains in the Gulf state's fourth parliamentary election in six years, while women candidates did not win a single seat, official results of the ballot showed.

Liberal candidates also lost seats in the vote, which was called by Kuwait's ruler, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, in December after he dissolved the chamber in response to deepening political deadlock that has stymied reform and held up vital development projects in the key oil-exporting country.

According to media reports, Islamists have securing 34 seats in the 50-member parliament, with women and liberals the big losers.

The Sunni Islamists, including Salafists, have bagged 23 seats compared to just nine in the dissolved parliament, while liberals claimed only two places against five previously, the report said citing official results.

Interestingly, no women were elected, with the four female MPs of the previous parliament all losing their seats, the report said.

Voters also punished pro-government MPs during Thursday's parliamentary election, reducing them to a small minority, the report added.

Only two of 13 former MPs who the public prosecutor questioned over corruption charges were re-elected, and the rest either lost or did not contest the poll.-Reuters and TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Kuwait | Corruption | Women | Islamist | opposition | elections |

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