Kuwait Holds Elections Despite Boycotts

Photo Credit: AP

Kuwaiti polls have closed and vote counting has begun following the country’s second parliamentary elections in ten months. Opposition groups were out in force on November 30, as tens of thousands of protesters rallied in a “Nation’s Dignity” march calling for a boycott of the elections. Information Minister Sheikh Mohammad al-Mubarak al-Sabah criticized the opposition saying, ”I find this of great regret and I hope to the bottom of my heart that the 400,000-plus Kuwaitis who have the ability to cast their vote for their preferred candidate will exercise their democratic right to do so.” Former opposition MP Mohammad Hayef predicted that “the turnout  will not exceed 25 percent,” which would be a record low for Kuwait. The Kuwait Times reported that the vote occurred without incident and also confirmed a turnout in the mid-20′s. Members of the opposition, like Faisal al-Muslam, declared, ”After the election our demands will continue.”