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.