US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT2064

UNCLAS KUWAIT 002064 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI AND S/ES-O 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PGOV, KWMN, KDEM, KU, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, WOMEN'S POLITICAL RIGHTS 
SUBJECT: WELL WORTH THE WAIT: KUWAITI WOMEN GAIN FULL 
POLITICAL RIGHTS 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 2041 
     B. KUWAIT 1947 
     C. KUWAIT 1907 
     D. KUWAIT 1901 
     E. KUWAIT 1836 
 
1.  After six hours of debate, the National Assembly passed 
May 16 an amendment to Article 35 of the election law 
granting Kuwaiti women full political rights, including 
voting in parliamentary elections and running for national 
office starting in 2007, the date of the next elections. Of 
the 59 MPs and Ministers present, 35 voted in favor and 23 
against.  After the second reading of the bill that confirmed 
the 35-23 vote, apprehensive applause crescendoed to 
rapturous clapping and singing of the Kuwaiti national 
anthem. Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber 
Al-Sabah thanked every voting Assemblyman, even those who 
opposed women's rights. He added that the inclusion of 
dissenting voices is the sign of a true democracy. The 
decision comes two weeks after an unresolved vote on women's 
political participation at the municipal council level (ref 
E).  The amended article now reads: "every adult Kuwaiti 
citizen, aged 21, has the right to vote, except a naturalized 
citizen, who has not been in the status for at least 20 
years...a Kuwaiti woman, voting and running for political 
office, should do so while fully adhering to the dictates of 
Islamic Shari'a."  (Note:  It is not yet clear what Shari'a 
requirements will have to be met, but they are not expected 
to limit women's political participation.  End note.) 
Kuwaiti women responded to the decision by staging an 
impromptu celebratory motorcade on the Gulf Road. 
 
2. The National Assembly agreed that the women's suffrage 
issue would be the third item on the day's agenda behind a 
vote on a proposed salary increase for government workers and 
retirees, one of the bargaining issues to which the Al-Sabah 
Government apparently acceded in exchange for support on 
women's political rights. The increase passed at midday with 
a hand count vote of 31 in favor.  (Note: The increase will 
benefit 203,000 Kuwaitis. Most will receive an increase of KD 
50 (approx. USD 170) per month effective July 2005.  The 
increase is expected to cost the state approximately KD 110 
million (approx. USD 375 million). End Note) 
 
3.  Post submitted draft press guidance to NEA/ARPI.  Further 
response to the decision will be reported septel. 
 
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LEBARON