NGO Calls Parliament Candidate for Kuwait Reform

The Kuwait Transparency Society called candidates for the parliament elections, held on February 2, to sign an “Electoral Program for the Reform of Kuwait.” The signatories of the program submitted (in Arabic) by the NGO would commit to few political reforms, such as, preparing anti-corruption laws,  achieving transparency of the public sector , working on the change from individual candidate elections system to a list system, issuing a transparent national policy plan by the Prime Minister in cooperation with the civil society, etc. In addition, for the first time, Kuwait Transparency Society will monitor the elections.

Meanwhile, Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah visited the Media Center for National Assembly elections 2012.  Al-Sabah stated “we will not accept or agree to any misuse of the elections,” and stressed “[we] will do our best to ensure that elections are fair and free of any impurities.”

Kuwait’s electoral commission announced that 286 candidates will run in the parliamentary elections, among them 23 women. 400 000 Kuwaitis are scheduled to cast their ballots in the election of 50 representatives.