Kuwait's Islamist-led opposition took control of the Gulf state's parliament, making sweeping gains in a snap election on the back of a wave of public anger over corruption and political deadlock, results showed on Friday. The country's ruler, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, called the vote in December after dissolving the chamber in response to a deepening political deadlock that has stymied reform and held up vital development projects in the oil-exporting country.
Analysts said the results might only deepen political turmoil in the key US ally if they embolden the opposition to push for constitutional changes and challenge the government, which is appointed by a prime minister hand-picked by the ruling family. "The opposition win will not resolve ongoing political and social tensions in Kuwait; indeed, tensions could worsen as the opposition demands a structural change in the political order," said Eurasia Group in a note.
Candidates from the loose opposition bloc took about two thirds of the assembly's 50 seats, eroding the position of Shia parliamentarians, who had generally sided with the previous government. The opposition bloc, which had just over 20 seats before the vote, will control the state's fourth parliament in six years.
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