The opposition, especially Islamist, has strengthened its majority in the parliamentary elections in Kuwait, the seventh in a decade in this rich Gulf state where only one woman was elected MP, according to results published Wednesday (June 7th).

Unlike other countries in the region, Kuwait has a vibrant political life. Some MPs do not hesitate to take to task ministers from the ruling family of Al-Sabah, which retains the levers of power.

This permanent standoff has led to the resignation of several governments and the dissolution of Parliament on numerous occasions, plunging the country into a political crisis.

The opposition won 29 out of 50 parliamentary seats, including 12 Islamists and a former minister who was re-elected, according to Tuesday's election results published by the official Kuna news agency.

The new Parliament is essentially composed of the same figures as the previous one, with the exception of 12 deputies, including young reformers, some claiming to be from the opposition, who are entering the assembly.

In March, the Constitutional Court invalidated the 2022 parliamentary elections, ruling in favour of restoring the previous Parliament, which emerged from the 2020 elections. Both elections were won by the opposition.

See also Sick of its "democracy", Kuwait tries to get out of the stalemate

Seven governments in three years

In early April, the small monarchy formed its seventh government in three years, and a few days later, the emir dissolved parliament and called new legislative elections.

Opposition MP Adel Al-Damkhi welcomed the "reformist turn" that Parliament has just taken. "The election results show the awareness of the Kuwaiti people," he told AFP.

Janane Bushehri, the only MP, who retains her seat for a third term, told AFP she hoped the new parliament would work for "stability" and to "advance political and economic issues". Two women sat in the previous Parliament.

Political tensions have hampered much-needed reforms in the country's poorly diversified economy, in contrast to its powerful neighbours, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

This instability has dampened investors' appetite for Kuwait, one of the world's largest oil exporters, with nearly 7% of the world's crude reserves.

With AFP

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