Kuwait Election “Process” April 28, 2008
Posted by Burhan in : Kuwait , trackbackSo for a foreigner like myself, the Kuwait election process seems a bit like a circus. At last count, there were 300+ candidates, hoping for 50 seats, across 5 constituencies. That’s not the circus bit; in almost any democracy there are more candidates than seats. The circus bit is how the election “process” is actually taking place, namely:
1. Ban on advertising on the streets — this is one of the best laws they ever passed out. Thank Allah. I still remember last election time so much sign spam along the roads (especially on 2nd RR), and worse they were putting their placards on top of road signs.
2. Ban on putting advertising on cars — and a serious fine as well anywhere between 1,000 and 3,000 KD according to a news flash (this via the AFPNaharnet service):
Kuwait’s Interior ministry fines the owners of cars who use their vehicles to promote a parliamentary election candidate between one and three thousand dinars
3. Candidates all blaming the government. The government this, the government that. Okay, fine. The government is not what you want, which is why you are running for election right? How about declaring your platform? How would you change the government? I have yet to hear a candidate speak on this; maybe I’m not listening? Someone clue me on this via comments.
4. What candidates do talk about? Generally they are from one of these camps — one want to turn Kuwait into a strict Islamic society or; they want the government to be more liberal or; they are blaming the government for everything under the sun (including loans of citizens and how the government should pay them off — fiscal responsibility? Heard of it? No? How about declaring bankruptcy?). Then there are gems like this (an exact quote from AFPNaharnet flash service; and the reason I am writing this little post):
Parliamentary elections candidate Mohammed Haief asked the interior minister to clear Kuwait off[sic] Bengali workers
What the hell? Can someone PLEASE explain to me the reasoning behind this? Mr. Haief, please explain yourself.
Comments»
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