By Wafa Ramadan, KUNA,
Kuwait : Fame has its irresistible glamour that is highly valued by celebrities in various domains who have tasted the limelight, and many people seek to acquire fame for there are many roads to reach it.
Fame is yet a double edged-sword, where it could terminate its seeker if it is his or her only aim. Many contending for seats in the Kuwaiti National Assembly are actually seeking to become some kind of celebrities, regardless of the would-be lawmakers’ responsibility of serving the society and the country.
In remarks to Kuwait News Agency, professor and researcher in University of Kuwait Dr. Mona Al Ghareeb said many unknown persons nominate themselves in every election for the National Assembly, likening the chaos they cause in the electoral process to the disorderly conditions at the weekly bazaar, the “Friday market.” She added that some fame seekers can not reach it through actual achievements, so they simply nominate themselves, using empty slogans that do not affect the conscious Kuwaiti voters who enjoy rich electoral experience that allow them to distinguish between the genuine and fake candidate.
She affirmed that some candidates lack the achievements that they would be elected upon, where they are not capable enough of holding their future positions in case they win, not being able to contribute the society. The reason such people participate in the elections is “either they have high self-esteem or they have nothing to do.” The professor of political science in Kuwait University Dr. Abdul Retha Asiri said having such unqualified candidates is due to a number of reasons, like financial blackmailing to other candidates, or simply to compensate their feelings of inferiority by seeking fame through elections.
He added that this kind of candidate is usually non-eligible, who does not attract or affect the voter positively. Such a candidate is pretty sure that the only thing that may pave way for winning is being famous during the period preceding the polling process.
He added that the terms of electing in the State of Kuwait are very simple, where the constitution has set them in a way that allow every citizen to nominate himself or herself, with no social, economic or political discrimination, saying that any restrictions on the electing process limit the principle of equal opportunities.
The professor of political science in Kuwait University and head of European studies unit Dr. Heila Al-Mkaimi said that fame is a legitimate right for every citizen, where “we cannot prevent them from practicing their rights especially if they are reaching it through legitimate means.” She added that here comes the role of the voter, who must determine whether his or her choice would be based on candidates seeking fame at the expense of serving the society or qualified candidate contributing to the development of the country.
She called on the voters to set plan that help them to choose the most appropriate candidate, and not the seekers of fame