Kuwaitis Protest Voting Changes Ahead of Poll

Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of Kuwait City in a peaceful opposition-led rally against new voting rules.

Sunday’s protests at a square opposite the parliament come ahead of elections on December 1.

The enthusiastic crowds chanted “the people want the repeal of the law,” ordered by Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah to change the voting system ahead of the second parliamentary poll this year.

“The law aims at preventing Kuwaiti popular participation in governance… and to establish autocratic rule and exploit the country’s resources,” Khaled al-Sultan, former MP, told cheering protesters.

Organizers estimated the gathering at around 200,000 people, which would be the largest rally in Kuwait’s history, but onlookers said the number was around 50,000.

Comprised of tribal and liberal legislators, as well as youth groups, the opposition says the new voting rules are an attempt to skew the parliamentary election in favor of pro-government candidates.

“The amendment of the law is a breach of the constitution… Today, we are here to defend our constitution,” Mishari al-Ossaimi, former MP said.

Opposition politicians held a majority in the last parliament which was dissolved at Emir’s order in June.

Under the new rules, each voter chooses only one candidate instead of four, a move the opposition says will prevent its candidates winning the majority they had in the last vote.

They say the four vote system better enabled candidates to form political allegiances during the election campaign by recommending supporters cast additional ballots for their allies.

Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, the 83-year-old emir who has led the country since 2006, has said the new rules are aimed at preserving national unity and warned last week there would be no leniency for threats to national security.

There are 397 candidates for the 50-seat parliament according to the election affairs directorate, which closed registrations on Friday.

Kuwait’s opposition has urged a boycott of the election to select the country’s fifth parliament in six years.

Some protesters are also calling for a government that is elected rather than appointed by the al-Sabah family, which has ruled Kuwait for more than 250 years.

They also want to see the creation of political parties, which are currently banned, meaning legislators form blocs based on policy and family ties.