Two independent MPs secure seats in Kuwait by-election

KUWAIT CITY

Islamists in Kuwait have failed to win two seats in by-election in the National Assembly (parliament), according to official results on Sunday.

The two seats were left vacant after a court verdict stripped Islamist MPs Jamaan al-Harbash and Walid al-Tabtabai of their membership in parliament.

The two lawmakers were slapped 42-month jail term each on charges of storming the parliament headquarters.

Final results showed that independent candidate Badr al-Mulla gained 4,657 votes against his Muslim Brotherhood competitor Hamad al-Matar, who won 4,616 votes in Saturday's by-election.

Another independent nominee, Abdullah al-Kandari, got 6,705 votes against Salafist candidate Ammar al-Ajami, who earned 5,173 votes.

The National Assembly has 50 elective seats besides 16 appointed cabinet ministers, according to the country's constitution.

With the current results, the Kuwaiti opposition would struggle to attain its proposed bills with only 15 parliamentary seats it maintains.

Writing by Mahmoud Barakat