Kuwait Times, Sunday, Jun 04, 2023 | Thul-Qidah 15, 1444
Kuwait NGOs to watchdog next parliamentary vote
Kuwait:
Kuwaiti nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have always been playing a
significant role in serving the society, addressing its problems and monitoring
political events and public activities, including election observation. The
Kuwaiti cabinet has recently asked several NGOs to partake in watching the
country’s forthcoming parliamentary elections due on June 6 out of its
commitment to ensuring fair and transparent elections.
Kuwait Journalists Association (KJA) Chairman Adnan Al-Rashed said the decision
of the Council of Ministers to ask the association to monitor the elections is
an appreciated move in favor of the Kuwaiti society and local journalism in
particular. In a statement to KUNA, he said the association has been one of the
most effective tools in monitoring the parliamentary elections since the
mid-1960s.
The cabinet’s praiseworthy move reflects the state’s confidence in Kuwaiti
national organizations and their role. The role of the KJA, he said, is to
submit reports of any observations it makes regarding the electoral process to
the concerned authorities. He added that the KJA, throughout its previous
participation in monitoring parliamentary elections, has always found all
concerned government entities, be it the ministries or the judicial authorities,
to be cooperative.
Rashed also spoke highly of the government’s decision to increase the number of
NGOs participating in the observation of the National Assembly (parliament) as
clear evidence of the significant national role of civil society organizations.
Chairman of Kuwait’s National Nazaha Society Mohammad Al-Otaibi told KUNA that
NGOs’ involvement in watching the forthcoming vote is of paramount significance
at both local and international levels. This unquestionably shows further
transparency and fairness and highlights Kuwait as a “state of institutions and
law”, he said, adding that the decision is mainly aimed at keeping a close eye
on potential electoral flaws.
He called on all eligible voters to head to the polling stations next week,
given that the international community will be following the democratic race.
Also speaking to KUNA, Chairman of Kuwait Transparency Society Majid Al-Mutairi
said the ultimate goal of NGOs’ election observation is not only to ensure clean
and fair elections, but also to assess the democratic situation and improve
Kuwait’s ranking in relevant international indicators. He added that his agency
would conduct various reports about all the stages of the electoral process,
including ballot centers, candidates’ discourse and electoral atmospheres in
general.
Chairman of the Kuwaiti Parliament Performance Follow-up Society Nasser
Al-Shelemi said his body’s role in observing the next vote due on June 6
reflects the government’s belief in the significance and role of national civil
society organizations. The cabinet’s recent decision would definitely lead to
the actual application of the principles of genuine partnership, and integrity
and transparency criteria to the democratic process. Minister of Social Affairs
and Women and Children’s Affairs Mai Al-Baghli said on Monday that the cabinet
had decided to allow national NGOS to watchdog the forthcoming electoral race.