US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT1600

UNCLAS KUWAIT 001600 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI - BERNS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, KWMN, KU, WOMEN'S POLITICAL RIGHTS 
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENT GIVES NOD TO WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN 
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL; STATUS OF UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE UNCLEAR 
 
REF: KUWAIT 1401 
 
1.  The National Assembly gave preliminary approval April 19 
to a municipality law amendment giving Kuwaiti women the 
right to run for, vote in, and be appointed to the Municipal 
Council.  The measure passed 26 to 20 with three abstentions. 
 A second round of voting is expected to take place in two 
weeks, followed by promulgation by the Amir.  (Note: 
Normally, legislation requires a majority vote of two-thirds 
for passage.  For some cases, Parliament can require a 
special majority and procedures. Post is examining the 
conditions set for this particular amendment.  End note.) 
 
2.  The Municipal Council meets weekly to address 
neighborhood issues such as streets, schools, zoning, and 
other technical issues.  The 16-member body, which falls 
under the authority of the Deputy Premier and Minister of 
State for Cabinet and National Assembly Affairs, has no 
budget or contracting authority.  There was no action on 
proposed legislation to extend universal suffrage to women 
for National Assembly elections. 
 
3.  Comment:  Whether Parliament's actions regarding 
Municipal Council elections would have a positive or negative 
impact on the fate of the GOK proposal to grant women full 
voting and office-holding rights remains undetermined.  Some 
long-time activists are concerned that granting this partial 
right would lead undecided MPs to lose the sense of urgency 
about full political participation for women and opponents to 
further stall decisive action on the GOK legislation. 
LEBARON