![Only female member of Kuwait's National Assembly, Safa Al-Hashem [Safa Al-Hashem/Youtube]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/safa_alhashem-e1544691038127.jpg?fit=893%2C596&ssl=1)
Opposition groups, dominated by Islamic parties, won nearly 50 per cent of seats in the Kuwaiti parliament.
Elections were held in the Gulf state on Saturday, they resulted in opposition groups winning 24 seats of the 50 open seats in Kuwait’s 65-member National Assembly, reducing the government’s overwhelming control in previous assemblies.
In what is considered to be a blow to the pro-government ministers who failed to be re-elected.
Parliamentary Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim retained his seat in power.
The winners included Safa Al-Hashem, the only woman to win a seat in parliament. Fifteen women had run in this year’s elections.
This is the third parliamentary victory for 52-year-old Al-Hashem who resigned during her last term.
She was among a number of members of parliament who resigned in protest against the National Assembly’s refusal to question Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al Sabah about allegations of corruption.
The polls saw a turnout of around 70 per cent.
Saturday’s snap elections were held the Emir dissolved parliament for the sixth time since 2006.