Kuwaitis boost Opposition

Press, 23 February 1985, Page 11

Kuwaitis boost Opposition

NZPA-Reiiter Kuwait City Kuwaitis opted for surprise changes in a new National Assembly this week, apparently signalling concern over the Government’s social and economic policies. Results announced for Wednesday’s election show that more than half the 50 members voted into the next assembly, the only elected Gulf Arab Parliament, will be new. Islamic fundamentalists won a handful of seats, consolidating a foothold they gained in elections in 1981 and heralding new efforts to entrench Islamic law in Kuwait.

Arab nationalists, the Opposition in the 1960 s and 19705, until the then Emir suspended Parliament in 1976, scored a five-seat come-back after failing dismally four years ago. Seeking to diversify the oil-reliant economy, and widen the franchise, they

also favour Constitutional changes that would reduce the power of the ruling family. As expected, conservatives will again dominate the assembly. But they appear to include a broader circle of reformists and technocrats prepared to question State policy. A front-runner among these is Jassem Khorafi, chairman of the former assembly’s finance and economic committee, whom diplomats watched as an election “weather-vane” to measure public opinion on State economic policies. After sustained attacks on the Government’s handling of the economy, Mr Khorafi pulled in 50 per cent more votes than in 1981.

Among the old guard, both the chamber’s speaker, Muhammad Yousef Adsani, and the Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, Jassem Saqr, suffered shock defeats by nationalists.