Women Win First Parliament Seats in Kuwait History

Women have won four seats in Kuwait's parliament, the first women to do so in the Gulf Arab state's history, official election results showed on Sunday.

Kuwaiti women were first given the right to vote and run for office in 2005 but failed to win any seats in the 2006 and 2008 elections, held in Kuwait where politics is still widely seen as a man's domain.

There were 16 women among the 210 candidates for the 50-seat assembly in Saturday's election.

About 384,790 Kuwaitis, over half of them women, were eligible to vote but turnout was low and voters were worried that the poll would do little to end a long-running standoff between parliament and government.

 

Kuwait's ruler, Amir of Kuwait His Highness Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmed, called the election after dissolving parliament two months ago to end a political crisis that had paralysed decision-making.

The official KUNA news agency said liberal candidates Aseel al-Awadhi and Rula Dashti came in second and seventh place in the third constituency, giving them both seats in the house.

Former health minister Massouma Al Mubarak, who became the first Kuwaiti woman minister in 2005, and another female candidate, Salwa Al Jassar, also secured seats in parliament.