We can describe the 2016 parliamentary election results as a 'well-deserved slap' to the 2013 parliament, as the polling boxes brought a tsunami of change by bringing 34 new lawmakers as an absolute majority in this parliament. My constant criticism of the previous parliament was not personal as I repeatedly stressed that the people were furious by the parliament's performance and its silly plays which cost the legislative power its value, prestige and expression of people's concerns and aspirations. However, it would be sinful to beat the dead, writing about that 2013 parliament's failures is no more necessary.

The recent election indicates hope and optimism in our political arena. Though the new parliament formation remains the same since 1963 in terms of including Sunnis, Shiites, Hadars (urban) and Bedouins, we hope that the mentality and political speeches may have changed by now. More importantly, we hope the performance will be better, since each MP now represents the entire nation. Thanks be to Allah Almighty, the election results reflect a retreat of sectarianism after so many of its advocates lost. Those who managed to win seemed  to have subsided their calls since they no longer have any appeals to make to the citizens.

The results also showed considerable losses to pro-government MPs and the return of those advocating people's rights, waved weapons of reform and were fighting corruption in the government's face. For these reasons, over 70 percent of the voters took part, and that was surely a figure that had been long forgotten since the 1992 post-liberation elections. Young men and women not only stood as voters but also as candidates in the elections. Young voters worked tirelessly on social media networks, exchanging visits and field visits to candidates in other constituencies with the same ideologies, and thus managed to knock down iconic veteran parliamentarians including those who received bribes. They knocked down sectarian MPs, ministers and government rubber-stamp MPs as they fought a fierce battle through by-elections and vote-buying.

The message is very clear but will the government perceive it and learn the lesson on forming its new cabinet and setting its new agenda? These were the seventh elections since 2003 using various electoral systems and parliament formations while the government's mentality, working methods and justifying actions by constitutional principles remained the same. While the government learns the lesson of the 2016 elections and absorbs the new overwhelming youth ideologies, we better get ready for further parliaments that will be dominated by the youth, which will be a fiercer slap than the one given to the 2013 parliament. - Translated by Kuwait Times form Al-Jarida

By Dr Hassan Jouhar