19 May 2009
Editorial
This weekend's parliamentary elections in Kuwait have produced a series of pleasant surprises, and not surprisingly, the media anointed the groundbreaking victory by four women candidates as the standout feature. The achievement by the four women is worth mentioning, and commendable. It was also a win by four holders of Ph.D.s, and we hope that Masuma al-Mubarak, Asil al-Awadi, Rola al-Dashti and Salwa al-Jassar prove worthy of their new office, after distinguishing themselves in the fields of politics, economics and education.
The media also highlighted other aspects of the election, such as the decline in voting for organized Islamist groups, and the rise in fortunes for candidates identified as liberals and Shiites. The latter group happens to represent political inclinations that are liberal and secular, and not religious or sectarian. The win by Dashti, as a Shiite candidate in an overwhelmingly Sunni district, is even more remarkable during this time of unfortunate sectarian tension in the region; Kuwait sits right next to two centers of this tension, Iraq and Iran.
The electorate, overall, showed that it wanted an end to political deadlock, and a start to reform and better governance. While some analysts believe that the results don't necessarily mean a quick answer to Kuwait's political malaise, the electorate brought in more reasonable candidates, ones who we can assume will play their legislative and monitoring roles with gusto.
If women and liberal reformists were the big winners, then organized political parties and dogmatic stances were clearly the big losers, as candidates running as independents also did noticeably well.
The ruling elite in Kuwait should look at the results closely, and avoid the temptation of seeing the decline in fortunes for organized groups - in a country where political parties are officially banned - as a victory; a weaker and less cohesive opposition in Parliament, perhaps. Kuwait's leaders must remember their recent past: three elections in as many years, and half a dozen governments formed. The expectations of the public have certainly been raised by the results of this latest poll.
Kuwait's rulers and political class can opt to institute the needed reforms, moving seamlessly, and bloodlessly. They should benefit from the results, and not try to undermine them.
Few have the experience of the Emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah; his four-decade career in politics should be able to guide him toward steering the system in the right direction. The people have spoken and their message is clear. If it's ignored, then the next elections could deliver a less palatable result.
Copyright The Daily Star 2009.
