KUWAIT:Kuwaitis go to the polls on Saturday hopeful that new faces will help end endemic political feuding and revive a moribund economy, but fearing little will change after a campaign dogged by intimidation and vote-buying.
Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah dissolved parliament in March to end a crisis with the cabinet that had delayed economic reforms.
But the two-month campaign has since been marred by protests, arrests and confusion after the state redrew electoral districts to ensure a more balanced representation in a parliament that has tended to be dominated by Islamist blocs and tribal alliances.
The last assembly focused on questioning ministers over their conduct, forcing some to resign. Last year, the cabinet resigned to avert a no-confidence vote in the health minister, who is a member of the ruling family.
The crisis persisted despite repeated pleas by the emir, who has the last say in policy, for the legislative and executive branches to work together for the good of the country.
Kuwait, which sits on 10 per cent of the world's oil, wants to wean its economy off energy exports and emulate neighbours such as Dubai, Qatar and Bahrain, which have transformed themselves into financial centres and tourist destinations. But its political standoff means even a long-awaited Bill aimed at attracting foreign investment has yet to pass.
Oil comprises more than 90 per cent of Kuwaiti government revenues and half of gross domestic product (GDP), Global Investment House said. That compares to 3 per cent of GDP in Dubai.
Analysts say there is some room for hope. Politicians appear to be waking up to the reality that Kuwait is falling behind.
"Many candidates regret what happened in the last assembly when deputies focused on grillings," said Ali al-Baghli, a former oil minister and critic of government and parliament.
"They are promising to focus more on economic issues and what people care about."
The Islamist Constitutional Movement, a leading Islamist bloc that was behind last year's questioning of the health minister over his policy, has pledged in its election programme to co-operate with the next government.
The Liberal Democratic Alliance, a technocrat group, said it will back a long-delayed Bill to set up a financial regulator.
Other liberals such as Rola Dashti, a female economist who is running for the second time, promise privatisation to shift Kuwait away from its cradle-to-grave welfare system.
- (Reuters)