KUWAIT CITY: A Kuwaiti opposition group called on voters Wednesday to boycott upcoming parliamentary elections over what it called a lack of political and legislative reforms necessary for fair polls.
The Ummah party, a group of Islamist and conservative politicians founded in 2005 but still not officially recognized, called for reforming the electoral system and establishing an independent election commission.

The Ummah party also called for legalizing political parties ahead of the polls to guarantee a smooth rotation of authority and hold the government accountable in case it failed to carry out its program.

Political parties are not recognized in Kuwait but many political groups operate as de facto parties.
Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah dissolved parliament Tuesday following protests against the previous government headed by Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah over corruption allegations.

The new polls must be held within 60 days of dissolving the 50-member parliament but so far no date has been set.
The emir said in a decree read out on state television that the decision to dissolve parliament came after it became difficult to achieve progress.
“This required going back to the nation to choose its representatives in order to overcome present difficulties,” the decree said.

The oil-rich Gulf state has been rocked by a series of political crises over the past six years during which seven governments were forced to resign and parliament was dissolved on four occasions.
The OPEC-member has been locked in a long-running political battle between the government, dominated by the ruling al-Sabah family, and the 50-member elected parliament.

The crisis mainly revolved around allegations by opposition parliament members against former Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah, a nephew of the emir, of mismanagement and corruption – charges which he denied.

“I think it [parliament’s dissolution] will at least open up a chance of having a new beginning with a new chance of cooperation – that’s a possibility,” said Ghanem al-Najar, professor of political science at Kuwait University.
“If the prime minister and the new government take into consideration the resentment and the dissatisfaction within the public sphere – I’m sure this is going to move forward.”

The Ummah party stressed that dissolving parliament would help defuse tensions, but the lingering political crisis in the country will not be resolved without allowing the Kuwaiti people to elect their own government.
Under the current system, the ruler appoints the government headed by a member of the Al-Sabah ruling family which will continue to hold key posts regardless of the outcome of the polls.

The Ummah party had boycotted the general polls in 2006 and 2009 but fielded candidates in 2008 although it did not win any seats. The group also had a number of supporters in the dissolved parliament.