Jenan Boushehri
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Jenan Mohsin Ramadan Boushehri (born 1973 or 1974)[1] is a Kuwaiti politician. She was one of the first two women to run for election in Kuwait, and held various positions in the Cabinet until her resignation on 12 November 2019.
Career
[edit]Boushehri has a master's degree in chemical engineering[2] from Kuwait University and a doctorate from Ain Shams University in Cairo.[3][4] She was head of the food-testing department at the Kuwait Municipality.[5] In the 2006 Salmiya council by-election, when Kuwaiti women were allowed to vote for the first time, she was one of the first two female candidates seeking election.[1]
Ministerial career
[edit]On 11 December 2017, Boushehri was announced as Minister for Service Affairs and Minister for Housing.[6] In the 2018 cabinet reshuffle, she was made Minister for Housing and Minister for Public Works.[7]
Boushehri oversaw various infrastructure developments as a minister, such as a $356million road project connecting several high-density residential areas,[4] and a Chinese proposal to create thousands of new houses within the country.[8] As part of her role, she attended the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2019.[9]
Resignation as minister
[edit]On 12 November 2019, MP Omar Al-Tabtabaee requested an interpellation session against Boushehri.[10] He argued that she had failed to complete state infrastructure projects, such as the Jamal Abdul Nasser Highway project, and the country had incurred huge monetary losses as a result.[10] Boushehri responded that she had started 95 projects within the country, while several others were in various stages of discussion.[10]
Despite her rebuttal, 10 MPs signed a motion of no-confidence in her, and she resigned shortly after the National Assembly discussed her interpellation.[10]
Another no-confidence motion was signed by 10 opposition MPs against Interior Minister Khaled Al Jarrah Al Sabah on the same day, which MP Yousef Al-Fadhalah suggested was the real reason behind Boushehri's interpellation and resignation.[11] The government resigned two days later on 14 November.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Kuwaiti women vote for first time". BBC News. 4 April 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ "Female candidate to run in Kuwait poll". www.aljazeera.com. 12 February 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ "السير الذاتية للوزراء في الحكومة ال 35 بتاريخ الكويت السياسي" [Biographies of ministers in the 35th government in Kuwait's political history]. Kuwait News Agency (in Arabic). 12 November 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Kuwait signs KD 109 million infrastructure deal to push mega housing project". Kuwait Times. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ "Kuwaiti women vote for first time". www.aljazeera.com. 4 April 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ "Formation of the new Kuwaiti Cabinet announced". Kuwait News Agency. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ "New cabinet members take oath before His Highness the Amir". Kuwait News Agency. 25 December 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ "Chinese contractor to deliver 6,000 housing units by April". Arab Times. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ "World Leaders Gather in New York for The UN General Assembly". Al Bawaba. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ a b c d Al-Naqeeb, Ahmed (12 November 2019). "Minister quits in 'no-confidence'". Arab Times. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ Izzak, B (13 November 2019). "MPs call for end to govt infighting after grillings". Kuwait Times. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
- ^ "Kuwait's ruling emir accepts government resignation". Reuters. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.