Kuwaiti parliamentary elections

Some 113,00 Kuwaiti voters headed Saturday to the election boxes to choose the new National Council , composed of 50 members.

Analysts said the elections will be a strong hit to the Islamists, as there is a focus by the government on supporting tribal candidates, especially after the accusations directed by the Islamists against the ruling family for leaving the country during the Iraqi invasion to Kuwaiti.

Early reports gave the government supporters some 16 seats with Islamists gaining 20 seats and the liberals 14 seats.

Prominent among the issues raised in the campaign were the rights of women to vote, granted by the Emir of Kuwait without the approval of the National Council which had been desolved at the time of the decree. Many other unaproved decrees were also issued with some having been attacked as distractions from current Kuwaiti economic conditions.

The electoral campaign included direct and indirect criticism of the ruling family and of the government, which gives the electoral campaign the feature of extreme competition and seriousness. It is not clear if the results of this election will lead to a convergence or divergence of views on the major issues facing Kuwait, its economy and its distribution of political power.

With the recent first time local elections held in Qatar, Kuwait continues to lead a unique political experience in the Arab Gulf states in its openess and political system.