The emirate’s ruler can either ask outgoing premier Sheikh Nasser Mohammed al-Ahmed al-Sabah to form a new government or appoint a new prime minister.
Sheikh Nasser, a nephew of the emir, has resigned five times since he was first appointed in February 2006 amid repeated disputes with parliament.
His last government resigned in March after five Islamist MPs filed three requests to grill him over allegations of mismanagement and misuse of public funds.
The 10-month-old parliament was subsequently dissolved and early elections held for the third time since June 2006.
Four women were elected for the first time in Saturday’s election which also saw the strength of Sunni Islamist groups shrink considerably.
Voters re-elected most of the MPs who opposed the prime minister—including three of the five who sought to question him.
Political parties remained banned in Kuwait, where the ruling Al-Sabah family keeps a firm grip on political life and has long held all of the key cabinet posts.
Under Kuwaiti law, the new cabinet must be formed before the new parliament holds its first meeting within two weeks of the announcement of the election results. The cabinet must include at least one elected MP.
Meanwhile Washington hailed the election of women to parliament as historic.
“The United States applauds the conduct of these elections and the historic and democratic admission of Kuwaiti women to the nation’s parliament,” said a statement from the American embassy.
“The new Kuwaiti parliament faces many challenges. We share the hope expressed by many Kuwaitis that these new parliamentarians, men and women, will work together and with their government in a spirit of harmony to fully develop Kuwait’s economic and social potential, in keeping with its historically progressive character and vision,” it added.
French human rights minister Rama Yade also congratulated the new women MPs, calling their election a “sign of hope” for equal rights.
