KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - ELECTIONS: RESULTS AND PREDICTIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002634 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN LONDON FOR TSOU PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO KDEM PGOV KU MEDIA REACTION SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - ELECTIONS: RESULTS AND PREDICTIONS Block Quotes -------------- Saturday, July 01, 2006 -- The staff of the progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas' inquired on the front page under the title "Lessons of the Dissolution and the Solution" (7/1): "Now that the elections are over, the results are out, and a new balance of power has formed in the National Assembly, Kuwaitis are questioning whether the government and the assembly will succeed in getting the country out of the electoral districts crisis. Or will we instead run around in circles at the expense of the country's stability and prosperity?" -- Khalid Ahmed Al-Tarah penned in the progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas under the title "After the Elections and Before the Formation of Government" (7/1): "The problem with the government is not the absence of the desire to work and achieve results. Rather, it is the lack of mechanisms that guarantee harmonious performance of all members of government. As for the National Assembly, the office of the chairman should quickly issuance long-awaited organizational guidelines. This will streamline discussion and dialogue among the Assembly members and also between the Assembly and the government. This should help focus on priorities and goals." -- Jaber Mohamed Al-Hajri commented in the progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas under the title "For Kuwait Only" (7/1): "No matter what the results of the elections and no matter who is in the green chairs, the important thing is Kuwait. We have heard enough curses, accusations, and seen enough doubts raised. These are not the characteristics of the real Kuwaitis. No one refuses criticism, even if it is harsh, so long as it aims at the betterment of the country and its citizenry." -- Liberal writer Mr. Abdul Latif Al-Duaij stated in the progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas under the title "They Ate Them for Breakfast" (7/1): "Not the council we wished for, as it is based on 25 districts. It is also the result of the government's divisive policies that seek to bolster the powers of corruption.... The victory of the Kuwaiti voter will be of no importance. Free elections will not be a determining factor. This is because the government that did not accept democratic decisions 40 years ago will not accept them now. It will not be difficult for the government to ignore it today. That is why we are confident that yesterday's crisis will continue with more divisions between the ruling family and the people." -- Columnist Ahmed Al-Deyain editorialized in the moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam under the title "Advise That Must be Given" (7/1): "Hopes remain high that the Amir's wisdom and ability will contain the crisis in our country. We hope that he will strive to realize our hopes of harmony between the government and the nation. Kuwaitis outlined their aspirations through the electoral seminars and the results of the elections. We hope that the elements of corruption and crisis will not be in the new government and that the electoral system will be reformed so that the grilling of the Prime Minister will not be necessary." -- Mahmed Gharib Hatem remarked in the moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan under the title "We Want the Government to Awaken Now" (7/1): "We as citizens call on the government to bring into government clean elements who are technocrats. Not those who want crises and to limit the revenues of the Kuwaiti people. We want Kuwait to regain its status regionally and globally.... Yes, we want the government to wake up and select ministers who are responsible and who do not fear the oversight of the Assembly. We want them to cooperate with their brothers -- the representatives of the people --for the interest of Kuwait. Lastly, we say 'no' to those predicting that the current Assembly will have a short lifespan." -- Professor of Political Science at Kuwait University, Dr. Shamlan Yousef Al-Issa commented in the pro-government daily Al-Seyassah under the title "The Message Behind the Elections" (7/1): "The phenomenon of youth dissatisfaction with the National Assembly and the government and speaking out against it is something from which the government did not benefit. It also did not listen to their reformist demands and their objection to political hiring and the rampant corruption throughout the government's organizations. These youths embraced the opposition and achieved what they demanded. These youths are fed up with the delays by the government on reform, fighting corruption, and the transgression against the law." KUWAIT 00002634 002 OF 002 -- Secretary General of the Journalists' Association, Faisal Al-Qanai penned in the pro-government daily Al-Seyassah under the title "Readers of the Elections' Results" (7/1): "A quick look at the results of the elections leads one to the conclusion that, in case of the implementation of the five or ten district solution, the elections will not bring about much change in the names of those elected. The factors leading to a candidate's win depend on the support of the tribe, sect, or party. A few candidates won in certain limited districts based on their proposed platform.... We do not want the National Assembly to become a battle field for settling accounts. We did not leave our homes to vote for that." -- Media Advisor and columnist, Sami Abdul Latif Al-Nesf commented in the moderate Arabic daily Al-Anbaa under the title "After the Dust Settled" (7/1): "We need a roof under which can meet the newly-elected MPs, members of the current government (and possibly the next one),former chairmen of the Assembly, the leaders of political blocs, and those known for their wisdom and decision-making. This meeting should aim to heal the deep wounds caused by the elections and the improper maneuvering that took place. All those aboard our ship should cooperate so that we can raise our sails and set out to sea. Anything else will leave us in a circle of crises on a ship whose hull is being eaten by rotten water and lime." ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * TUELLER