Kuwaitis vote in 1st parliamentary elections under new emir

By Ibrahim al-Khazen

KUWAIT CITY (AA) – Kuwaiti voters cast their ballot to elect a new parliament on Thursday, in the first polls since Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah assumed power last year.

Polls opened at 12:00 p.m. (1000 GMT) and will close at midnight (2200 GMT).

Some 834,733 voters are eligible to vote in Thursday’s polls to choose 50 lawmakers in the National Assembly, out of 200 candidates vying for the vote, according to the country’s electoral commission.

There are 13 women running for seats in the polls, the lowest figure since 1975.

On Monday, Emir Meshaal called on voters to participate in the polls and ignore “those who incite sedition and practices that threaten national unity,” the state news agency KUNA reported

The emir issued a decree to dissolve the assembly on Feb. 15, citing violations of the country’s constitution.

Tension often prevails in the relationship between the government and the National Assembly in Kuwait, leading to the government's resignation or dismissal on several occasions, following repeated interrogations by deputies.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala