(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The Kuwaiti government on Sunday submitted its resignation to the oil-rich Gulf state's ruling Amir in line with the constitution a day after parliamentary elections, an official statement said.
After accepting the resignation, the Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah will either reappoint outgoing premier Shaikh Jaber Mubarak Al Sabah, the likely scenario, or another senior member of the ruling family to form a new cabinet.
Before bowing out, the government approved a decree calling for the new parliament to hold its inaugural meeting on August 6, the cabinet said on its website.
The new cabinet, Kuwait's 13th in seven years, must be formed before parliament's first session.
The Shia minority emerged as the main losers on Saturday in Kuwait's second polls in eight months. They were reduced to eight seats in the 50-member assembly compared with a record 17 members in the previous parliament which was nullified last month by Kuwait's constitutional court.
Shias form around 30 per cent of Kuwait's native population of 1.23 million. Liberals and moderate Sunnis made some gains in the election, the sixth since mid-2006.
Voter turnout rose to 52.5 per cent, compared to December's record low of 40 per cent because of an opposition boycott. The average turnout at Kuwaiti polls is around 65 per cent.
Some groups who had boycotted the previous polls chose to take part this time, notably Bedouin tribes and liberals.
Radical Shias and Sunnis were dealt a heavy blow in the latest election, with at least two Shia and two Sunni radical members failing to hold onto their seats.
Analysts expect the new parliament to have improved ties with the government.
Liberals, Shias, Sunnis, merchants and almost all Bedouin tribes will be represented in the new parliament.
The liberals, who had no seat in the previous parliament, won at least three this time around. Sunnis increased their presence from five to seven seats and tribal groups maintained their strength at 24 seats.
Only two women were elected compared to three in the previous parliament. The opposition had called for a boycott in protest at the government's amendment of the key electoral law, although it was eventually upheld by the constitutional court.
The opposition gave no early official comment on the election resultsKuwait govt resigns after parliamentary polls
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