Results of Kuwaiti Vote Tilt Away From Islamic Bloc
Pro-government candidates may become the largest bloc in Kuwait’s new parliament, gaining at the expense of Muslim fundamentalists who had been the largest group, election results indicated Tuesday.
Independent readings of the results showed that religious deputies trying to advance their vision of an Islamic society slipped from 19 to 16 seats, while pro-government deputies appeared to have gained ground in the National Assembly, moving from 15 to 18 seats.
It was not immediately clear, however, whether pro-government deputies would overtake the Islamic-oriented deputies.
The political affiliations of parliament will be difficult to determine until the new legislature holds its first session Oct. 20 and coalitions are formed.
Political parties are banned, and almost all 230 candidates in Monday’s election were independents. A handful represented officially recognized “political movements” with various ideologies.
Of the 50 members of the outgoing parliament, 41 ran for reelection, but only 25 were returned to office.
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