KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION ON THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

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SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION ON THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

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Saturday, June 3, 2006

-- Political Science Professor at Kuwait University, Dr. Abdullah
Khalifa Al-Shaijy wrote in the moderate Arabic-language daily
Al-Watan under the title "Questions that need answers for the
upcoming elections" (6/3): "What do we expect from the parliamentary
establishment that remains the safety valve on the political system
of any state? How will the parliamentary experience lead to
development of the Kuwaiti parliament which has stayed unchanged for
some time? And, why does it drown in struggles and debates that are
based on sectarian, tribal, and familial ties? And, why hasn't the
Kuwaiti parliament developed, other than minutely, during the last
four decades?"

-- KUNA journalist Mona Shashtar penned in the pro-government
Arabic-language daily Al-Seyassah under the title "Tabtabaei, thank
God you do not hold the keys to heaven" (6/3): "Strange Fatwas
concerning the political situation and the National Council that are
presented to us sporadically by the dean of the Shari'a College Dr.
Mohamed Al-Tabtabei; the last of which states that a woman's vote
should be according to her husband's desire. And, if the husband
swears to divorce the woman and she votes for a candidate other than
the one specified by him, the divorce is valid. There are many
questions for which there is no space but at the end we say to the
Dr. thank God the keys to heaven are not in your hands, otherwise
you would not let us in. Regards from the Kuwaiti female voters."

Sunday, June 4, 2006

-- Badr Khalid Al-Bahr wrote in the progressive Arabic-language
daily Al-Qabas under the title "Will the female candidate bear her
shame?" (6/4): "Will women in our society be able to survive and
bear [political] scandals as men have been able to in the west? So
far, the answer does not seem optimistic. We do not think women will
be able to bear political scandals even if we become open to the
world, women will remain unable to bear the shame, even as
candidate."

-- Former Media Advisor to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sami Abdul
Latif Al-Nesf inquires in the moderate Arabic-language daily
Al-Anbaa under the title "Elections 2006" (6/4): "How will women
vote? That is the important question in the upcoming election. Some
think that women will not change the results as the candidate who is
used to winning with one thousand votes will win with five thousand
votes. Women's opinions will not be far from men's opinions.
Personally, I think that this will exist in a few districts as for
the others, there will be frustration and anger amongst women and
that will change every equation. Beware of angry women."

-- Professor of Political Science at Kuwait University, Dr. Shamlan
Yousef Al-Issa states in the pro-government daily Al-Seyassah under
the title "Questions women should ask" (6/4): "Women face a dilemma
these days in trying to choose the right candidate, male or female,
who represents their interests and inspirations. The questions that
women should ask of the candidate before voting are: 'What is the
candidate's position on women's issues? What political powers oppose
women's rights? Why did some Islamist powers oppose women working?
Why do these powers aim to retire women early? And, why do these
powers discourage women from working outside of their homes?'"

Monday, June 5, 2006

-- Former MP and Former Minister of Oil, Ali Ahmed Al-Baghli
commented in the progressive Arabic-language daily Al-Qabas under
the title "Machiavelli's spawn" (6/5): "The candidates who have
declared their support for the five-district reform did not do so
because they long for reform. They did not do so to be parrots
repeating what others are saying. They did so hoping that their
popularity that is spread out in different areas in Kuwait will
guarantee their win. These expired faces should rest and wait to see
what comes of the upcoming redistricting battle. However, they have
grown with Machiavellian notions and that is why we can do nothing
but label them Machiavelli's spawn."

-- Engineer and Municipal Council Member, Shaykha Fawzia Salim
Al-Sabah wrote in moderate Arabic-language daily Al-Rai Al-Aam under
the title "Obstacles facing women candidates" (6/5): "Despite
Kuwaiti women's liberation politically, they have not yet been
liberated socially. That is why their political movements are slow
and shy. Her sense of responsibility may be greater than a man's,
but she remains constrained by her family's decisions. Whoever her

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father, brother, or husband votes for, she will vote for. Moreover,
she does not have the political culture since she still is hesitant
to attend seminars at the electoral headquarters, even if those
headquarters belong to women."

-- Saleh Al-Shaiji noted in the moderate Arabic-language daily
Al-Anbaa under the title "Even you, my lady candidate?" (6/5): "It
seems that some of our women dove into the political process and
went to its depths and rested at the bottom. A few years ago a
candidate claimed that he was shot at in an assassination attempt.
After investigation it turned out to be a ploy to get publicity. We
now see one of the women candidates who soon after walking out of
the elections authority and signing up as a candidate claimed to
have received death threats yet she did not withdraw her
candidacy.... We have been optimistic about women's participation in
the political process, but it seems that some women are following in
certain men's footsteps in using the same illegitimate political
weapons. The most important thing to them is winning no matter
how."

Tuesday, June 6, 2006

-- Former Chair of Kuwait University's History Department, Najat
Nasser Al-Haji argued in the moderate Arabic-language daily Al-Anbaa
under the title "Vote buying" (6/6): "What is being said about the
phenomenon of vote buying upsets the silent majority. There is
rampant fear of dust being kicked up around the transparency of the
electoral process and its integrity which are two elements that
distinguish our elections. We call on everyone to maintain our
democracy and its presentation of the true opinions of voters....
We hope for a democratic process that includes honest campaigning.
This will be the voice of democracy and the right given to us by God
and with which we have been entrusted."

-- Abdul Rahman Al-Najar, host of Kuwait TV's "TV Network" talk
program, complained in the moderate Arabic-language daily Al-Watan
under the title "Withdrawals from the elections" (6/6): "What is the
story behind these candidates who register and then withdraw a few
days later? Is there something forcing them to withdraw? Or, are
they complying with the wishes of someone who entices them with
money, promises, or expensive presents? Our mind tells us that most
of the withdrawals were done as a result of promises that are hard
to resist at this time when monetary values are mixed with moral
values."

-- Walid Abdullah Al-Ghanim wrote in the progressive Arabic-language
daily Al-Qabas under the title "Will women sell their votes?" (6/6):
"The vote buying phenomenon is the large gateway through which the
corrupt elements can reach the parliamentary seats then use those
seats to acquire as much personal benefit as possible, of course at
the expense of the state and the citizenry. The state's security
apparatuses have only prosecuted one case of bribery during the last
15 years, despite the fact that people talk about it all over. If
one were to ask expatriate laborers, they would point one to the
places where the selling and buying occurs.... Women are falling
into the same pitfalls of buying and selling votes these days. Since
the general situation allows for such things to take place and the
government does nothing to combat them, one cannot predict a seizure
of such activities."

-- Fouad Al-Hashim wrote in the moderate Arabic-language daily
Al-Watan under the title "The fibers of women's brains" (6/6): "Had
Abdul Karim Al-Qasim invaded Kuwait in 1961 the American forces
would have intervened under the command of President John Kennedy
and Kuwait would have been liberated and women would have gotten
their suffrage 40 years ago. But, the invasion was 40 years late and
with a little bit of pressure from George Bush the son women got to
vote and run for office. Had Kuwaiti women been voting since the
liberation the number of female MPs would be close to ten by now.
So, now we will need another 40 years before we become humans."

Wednesday, June 7, 2006

-- Jamal Al-Suwaifan claimed in the moderate Arabic-language daily
Al-Anbaa under the title "Women's voices decide the elections"
(6/7): "The upcoming parliamentary elections have a different flavor
from all those of the past because of the women's suffrage.... Some
of the candidates have their already-established male electoral
base. However, there is no doubt that women coming into the process
will raise the popularity of some figures. By these I mean those
supported by the different political parties. It is commonly known
that women do not vote for women as a result of their instinctual
jealousy which is not as active in men. Women's votes will be the
decisive factor in the upcoming elections and will change the

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political landscape of the country."

-- Secretary General of the Journalists' Association,Faisal
Al-Qanai, criticized in the pro-government Arabic-language daily
Al-Seyassah under the title "They are all liars" (6/7): "When one
reads the slogans put on signs by candidates one thinks that they
are all passionate about the country, that their aim is to serve its
interests voluntarily, and that they will not personally benefit,
and that no money will enter their pockets. I do not know how
citizens can fall prey to such ploys that the candidates have
carried on for sometime now and mastered.... The real slogan that is
hidden behind all these fake slogans is 'He who gets it, provides
for his flock'."

-- Lawyer Aziza Al-Mifrij remarked in the moderate Arabic-language
daily Al-Watan under the title "Before you vote" (6/7): "Beware of
all the tricks, tall tales, and deception as we approach the
parliamentary elections. We hope voters will not be fooled by the
talks, slogans, and facades and will vote for the patriotic Kuwaitis
who care about Kuwait and its citizens more than they care for their
own offspring. Every one of us should open up our eyes and ears and
put their brains to work before placing their ballots in the boxes.
Liars are many and for those who have already sold their votes we
say 'our regards to your conscience'."

-- Mohamed Mater Al-Bghaili wrote in the moderate Arabic-language
daily Al-Rai Al-Aam under the title "The vote bourse" (6/7): "We ask
the candidates who have made gains in this market, are you truly a
representative of democracy? And how can that be when you are
lacking it? And we turn to the voters who have sold their conscience
and ask, are you really comfortable with what you have done to your
generation? Can you someday be a leader to your family? And how can
that be when you have sold your freedom of expression on the vote
market?"

-- Shi'a former MP, Dr. Abdul Mohsen Yousef Jamal wrote in the
progressive Arabic-language daily under the title "Who wants to
deface democracy?" (6/7): "There are some who want to deface Kuwait
democracy and paint it in a negative light as one laced with
political money, primaries, and vote and conscience buying. Here,
combating such defacing must be a national duty for the government
and the nationalist popular powers.... We warn of slipping into the
swamp of corruption. The government should move against corruption
because if it spreads then everyone will be affected not only those
who have transgressed."

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