KUWAIT CITY, Feb 11: The outcome of the recently-concluded elections did not surprise many people, although it was shocking and worrisome considering its effects on the future of the country, which had been taken hostage on many occasions.

Keen followers of the local political events have affirmed that the election results were expected or even known by visionary individuals. The incidents we witnessed in the 2009 National Assembly had given us hints on the election outcome — the natural and logical results of compromises made by the government to secure the advancement of the opposition. According to Ibn Khaldoun, human beings
listen to the movements of their camels through the nature of their creation.

Political observers have pointed out that the citizens have spoken and elected their representatives. Everybody should respect the statement of the nation by accepting the election results, but we should not forget that Adolf Hitler, the Nazi leader who killed thousands and destroyed Europe, became a leader through free and fair elections, not military action. He headed the National Socialist German Workers’
Party, which won majority of the seats in the 1933 elections.

The political observers attributed the victory of 33 opposition lawmakers to the government’s compromises, especially since the opposition leaders had mounted political pressure on everybody without exception. They took to the streets and stormed State institutions. Instead of holding them responsible, they were rewarded through the Cabinet’s resignation, appointment of another prime minister and dissolution of the National Assembly.

Compromises
The political observers believe the compromises have given the opposition leverage and filled the pockets of their candidates. For this, it was natural for the electorate to vote for them, thinking they were stronger and have the ability to demand their rights from the government. The issue became more complicated because the latter had dumped its former supporters, who stood against the opposition’s activities, leaving them to face their fate alone. They faced persecution, allegations and defamation, but
the government refused to stand by them, so they paid a high price.

For the political observers, it was no longer surprising to see the opposition’s landslide victory because the government has greatly contributed to their success. In the same manner, they were not shocked by the failure of the former lawmakers in their re-election bid as the government sold them cheap, chained and ditched them. They were asked to compete without leveling the playing field.

The political observers affirmed the government did not stop at that, since it has become silent and timid by consolidating the ‘indolent state’ — a popular phrase usually used by political scientists. This means the government was serious about minor issues, while it was lax in handling major concerns, not to mention its failure to implement the Constitution properly and impose respect for it.

Decisive
The observers said the government was not decisive in handling the National Assembly break-in; hence, the law was bent to consider the action merely an “entry without permission and illegal seizure of the gavel!” This happened even if it was a grave crime against national security due to the serious constitutional violations involved. The same people later attacked, burnt and destroyed the campaign headquarters of a candidate — an action dubbed as the ‘Adeiliyah Battle’. Many people in and outside the area were involved in the incident, so there was a need to search passersby and verify their identities. They ended up storming Al-Watan TV where they assaulted security operatives in public view. After the incident, the interior minister was silent like a cemetery for over 48 hours. He then issued a statement, asserting he will not allow anybody to apply the law of the jungle even if some people had already taken such action.

The most shocking aspect of the story was a statement issued by the Cabinet prior to that of the minister, which sounded like it was imploring the participants of the ‘Adeiliyah Battle’, even if it did not violate the rights of anybody. The government should have held the perpetrators responsible to avoid opening the door for revenge.

The observers added the opposition started preparing for its next action after the landslide victory in the National Assembly elections. The government has given them an opportunity to have a new parliament, new Cabinet and new prime minister in order to pacify them. Advisers have convinced the government that it was in danger, which was wrong and a mere imagination.

Experience has proven that the opposition is like fire; it is never satisfied, so it will ask for more after consuming everything. My fear is not different from other people who believe the government will one day raise “Except the Constitution” slogan, especially when its prerogatives and authorities are completely usurped and turned into mere “decorations”.

The political observers have also hinted that the opposition is now focusing on the amendment of the Constitution, because they have started exerting efforts to change some articles to consolidate the recent victory, up to the extent that they are ready to hold sessions without the government. They will probably select the prime minister to realize their age-long vision of having an “elected premier”.

The election results clearly indicate that everybody has become an opposition, particularly since MP Musallam Al-Barrak got over 17,000 votes from Jahra whose residents are mostly members of northern tribes, including Enezi, Shammari and Thufaeri, in addition to the urbanites whose candidates lost in the elections.

The political observers explained there is nothing wrong in the victory of the opposition because change, replacement and transformation are natural phenomena on Earth, and these are the features of a mature and modern democracy. Change in situation, will and opinion is inevitable, similar to what happened to renowned former British prime minister Winston Churchill, who lost in the election immediately after leading his country to victory in the World War II and getting rid of the German imperialist. General Charles De Gaulle, founder and spiritual father of the fifth republic, also lost the elections, prompting him to think the French are unstable people who were difficult to satisfy. He asked, “How do you expect me to lead citizens who produce 360 types of cowards?” Schröder, the most active German chancellor and many others before and after him, also lost in elections.

The political observers argued change is acceptable if it serves the interests of the country and citizens, while strengthening respect for the Constitution and political legitimacy. The election results lack this point, because it favored personalities known for breaking the law, storming institutions and attacking leaders of the society. They outshone reasonable and moderate political players, even though they are considered threats to the Constitution.

The political observers warned the results of the elections will have severe implications and will lead to untold difficulties, because the composition of the new National Assembly is not the ‘messiah’ Kuwait needs to get out of the political logjam and dark tunnel. It is rather a bomb ready to explode any time. Some lawmakers have been threatening to take the law into their hands, while many others have called for the demolition of Husseiniyahs and Shiite mosques. Some of them want to open the dual citizenship file and another group believes in the so-called conspiracy in a society where tribes remain the stabilizing force and pillar of the tent. They said the only positive aspect of the results is that the opposition has become the majority, so they can present initiatives and solutions. It is a good opportunity for them to prove their ability to solve the perennial problems of Kuwait and to move the wheels of development forward. They have to accomplish a difficult task, such that the populace will praise them if they succeed, yet the response will be the worst in the next elections if they fail.

Now that the coast is clear and free from the election marathon and crises created by the self-centered Parliament, we worry about Kuwait and the next generation. We fear the possibility that the statement uttered by one of them, “Enjoy the bad while the worst is on the way”, might become a reality. After all that has been said and done, we must remain optimistic, because only God knows the best for us. We hope the unfolding events will not prove us wrong.