2013 Kuwaiti general election

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Politics of Kuwait
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Arab League Member State of the Arab League

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Early general elections were held in Kuwait on 27 July 2013.[1] The elections were required after the Constitutional Court dissolved Parliament and annulled the results of the December 2012 elections.[2] Voter turnout was an estimated 52.5%, which was higher than expected despite an opposition boycott,[3] and only 7% lower than the non-boycotted February 2012 elections.[4]

Background[]

Early elections had been held in December 2012 after the National Assembly elected in February 2012 was dissolved by the Constitutional Court, as the dissolution of the previous Assembly elected in 2009 by Emir Sabah Al-Sabah was deemed to be unconstitutional. Six weeks before the December 2012 elections, the electoral law was changed to reduce the number of votes voters could cast from four to one. The changes were rejected by opposition groups, claiming that it would allow the government to manipulate the elections.[2]

According to the constitution, elections had to be held within 60 days of the dissolution on 16 June. They were originally scheduled for 25 July, but were later postponed due to delays in the candidate registration process; the electoral law required registration had to start a month before the election, but the cabinet put process on hold whilst it waited for the Constitutional Court to publish the reasons for ruling that dissolved the previous National Assembly.[5]

Campaign[]

The secular National Democratic Alliance announced that it would contest the elections after boycotting the December 2012 elections. However, other liberal parties, together with nationalist groups said they would boycott the July elections.[2]

Results[]

According to the Associated Press, liberal lawmakers gained at least six seats.[6] The Congressional Research Service reported that liberals won 9 seats, making them the largest political bloc in the parliament after pro-government Independents.[7] Fox News reported that the tribal bloc won at least 10 seats in the 50-member parliament. Two women were elected.[6] Sunni Islamists won 3 seats.[7] The Shia group was initially reduced to eight seats after winning 17 seats in December 2012.[3] Following a parliamentary by-election in 2014, the Shia group increased their share to 10 seats in the parliament.[8][9] Overall, there were 36 Independent MPs.[9]

PartyVotes%Seats
Independent (Sunni and Shia)36
Liberals9
Women2
Sunni Islamist3
Total50
Total votes228,314–
Registered voters/turnout439,91151.90
Source: IPU, Kuwait Politics Database

Aftermath[]

Following the elections, Marzouq Al-Ghanim was elected Speaker with 36 of the 65 votes, defeating Ali Al-Rashid (18 votes) and Roudhan Al-Roudhan (8).

References[]

  1. ^ "Kuwait cabinet sets parliamentary vote for July 27" Reuters, 26 June 2013
  2. ^ a b c Kuwait's main liberal group to take part in polls Ahram Online, 17 June 2013
  3. ^ a b Kuwait election: Shia candidates suffer at polls BBC News, 28 July 2013
  4. ^ Suliman Al-Atiqi (12 September 2013). "One Man, One Vote". Carnegie Endowment. As a result, the divided members of the opposition rendered themselves obsolete as the country witnessed a 52.5 percent voter turnout in the July 2013 election—up from the boycotted 40 percent, and 7.5 percentage points shy of the last non-boycotted election.
  5. ^ Kuwait polls likely to be postponed Gulf News, 25 June 2013
  6. ^ a b "Kuwait's conservative tribes make election gains". Associated Press. 28 July 2013. Liberal lawmakers seeking greater social and political freedoms gained at least six seats, the results showed.
  7. ^ a b "Kuwait: Security, Reform, and U.S. Policy" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. 30 August 2013. p. 10.
  8. ^ "The Danger to Kuwait is Authoritarianism". The Shia currently hold 10 out of 50 seats in the National Assembly and have generally served as a bulwark against the opposition since 2008.
  9. ^ a b "Kuwait Politics Database" (in Arabic).
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