Kuwait City, June 4 (AFP\/APP): Kuwait is staging its seventh general election in just over 10 years on Tuesday as the oil-rich Gulf state remains mired in a political impasse undermining hopes of economic reform.<\/p>\n
Fearing that widespread skepticism will discourage many people from voting, the authorities have festooned the capital with posters in an attempt to encourage a better turnout.<\/p>\n
The latest general election was called by the emir last month after he again dissolved parliament amid a persistent deadlock with the executive branch that has stalled reforms.<\/p>\n
Kuwait adopted a parliamentary system in 1962 but repeated political crises over the past years have resulted in state paralysis.<\/p>\n
The emirate suffers from constant stand-offs between elected lawmakers and cabinets installed by the reigning Al-Sabah family, which maintains a firm grip on political life.<\/p>\n
“We have to wake up and face up to this great frustration,” activist and university professor Sheikha al-Jassem told AFP of the political crisis.<\/p>\n
One of the world’s largest producers of crude oil, Kuwait is the only Gulf Arab state to have an elected parliament with powers to hold the government to account.<\/p>\n
On April 9, its seventh new government in three years was announced after the previous cabinet resigned in January only three months after taking office.<\/p>\n
Just over a week later, the ruling family dissolved parliament and called a new general election.<\/p>\n
The emir, 85-year-old Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, has stepped back from political life in favour of the crown prince, 82-year-old Meshal al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kuwait City, June 4 (AFP\/APP): Kuwait is staging its seventh general election in just over 10 years on Tuesday as the oil-rich Gulf state remains mired in a political impasse undermining hopes of economic reform. Fearing that widespread skepticism will discourage many people from voting, […]<\/p>\n
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