Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah has accepted the resignation of the country’s cabinet, paving the way for a new government, following parliamentary elections on 1 December.

The prime minister, Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah tendered his cabinet’s resignation at Seif Palace on 2 December, the local English language daily, Kuwait Times reports.

The 15 ministers will remain in their posts as caretakers until a new cabinet is formed. It must include at least one elected parliamentarian.

The 50-seat National Assembly’s first session is due to be held on 16 December to elect a speaker and deputy speaker.

Opposition groups who boycotted the elections say they will hold demonstrations calling for the new assembly to be abolished, as it was carried out under an amended electoral law, granting only one vote to each constituent. The change in the law, announced in October sparked protests in the run up to the elections.

According to Ahmad al-Ajeel, the head of the National Elections Committee, voter turnout in the election was 39.7 per cent. The opposition claims the figure was significantly lower.

According to official results from the election released on 2 December, the opposition has been left with no seats in the new parliament. Shia candidates, traditionally closely aligned with the ruling Al-Sabah family won 17 seats, a major gain from only 7 seats won in the February elections.

Three women were also elected, compared to zero women in the February elections. Islamist candidates have seen their numbers reduced to just four members. They had previously dominated the assembly with as many as 23 members.