Eqbal Al-Ghanim casts her vote in the 10th constituency. (Reuters)

KUWAIT, 30 June 2006 — Kuwaiti women went to the polls yesterday for the first time to elect a 50-seat Parliament.

Driven by excitement over the new experience, some women queued at polling stations exclusively for women at least two hours before the polls opened at 8 in the morning. “I haven’t slept all night and have been waiting for the polling to start,” said Nadia, a voter in Bayan electoral district.

Banker Shahla Al-Abdullah, 23, said this was the first time Kuwaiti women “proved their competence.” She said, however, that she would not be voting for one of the women candidates, Rola Dhasti, because she thinks that women politicians in Kuwait are still “green” and lacking in political experience.

Afaf, a 39-year-old sales clerk, echoed this sentiment, saying she had voted for a male candidate. “The women candidates are still politically naive and have not had enough time to get ready for the elections,” she said, also noting that some of the women candidates had been living abroad and therefore were not as familiar with local concerns.

Agreeing with Afaf, Muna Al-Fuzai, activist and Kuwait Times columnist, said that although she backed women all the way they still need more time to prepare for legislative responsibilities.

Umm Faisal, a 58-year-old disabled housewife, said she was happy to have lived to see women voting in her country. “We have been sharing all household responsibilities with our husbands, why not share planning the future of our country?” said Umm Faisal.

At a men’s polling station in Kuwait City, the process appeared to be going off without a hitch.

Ali Al-Rayyes, a 54-year-old director at Kuwait Television, said he voted for an incumbent and one of the women running in the election. “It’s high time we allowed the other half of society to take part in determining the future of Kuwait,” said Ali. “I promised my wife I would vote for one of the ladies,” he added with a smile.

Candidate Hamad Al-Tuwaijri, who is campaigning against corruption and the reduction of electoral constituencies, expressed his doubts that any of the women candidates would make it through.

Candidate of the 7th constituency, Shariah professor and former Islamist MP Waleed Al-Tabtebaei told Arab News that the fact that women voters (57 percent) outnumber the men would surely affect the composition of the coming Parliament. Yet, Waleed stressed that women’s chances in this particular election process were feeble.

“I believe Rola Dashti will win the majority of votes among women, but that will still not be enough for her to get a seat,” he said.

Kuwaiti journalist and publisher of Kuwait weekly Al-Hadath, Madhi Al-Khamees, said Kuwaitis were seeking reform and getting rid of former corrupt MPs and ministers. “The main issues to be tackled by the forthcoming Parliament are change in the number of electoral constituencies, the northern oilfield projects, housing problems, improving health services, developing the educational system and eliminating unemployment,” he said.

Madhi predicted that no woman would win. “Changes will be limited to a maximum of 15 out of the 50-member Parliament, with no woman at all,” he said.

Polling closed at 8 p.m. and final results were expected this morning.

There was no immediate official figures on the turnout but Kuwait TV reported that it was more than 80 percent in many of the 25 constituencies as voters braced searing temperatures close to 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit).

While the emir of Kuwait has the power to dissolve Parliament, the legislators have considerable power. For example, Kuwait’s Parliament must approve all legislation and has gone against the emir’s previous attempts to give women the power to vote. There are no political parties in Kuwait.