Kuwait - News Archive

Kuwait (Sept 25, 2012)

Posted: 09/27/2012
Kuwait’s Constitutional Court rejected the government’s appeal to amend the 2006 electoral law and redistrict the country.  The law being upheld currently divides the country into five constituencies.   Districting in Kuwait has been a point of tension between opposition groups and their government counterparts, appointed by the ruling Al-Sabah family. Opposition groups view redistricting before an election as an attempt to redefine electoral boundaries in favor of the government. Therefore the rejection of this ruling by the Constitutional Court is seen as a victory for Kuwait’s political opposition.

Source: ElectionGuide

Government of Kuwait Files Petition to Rule on Electoral Law

Posted: 08/20/2012
The government of Kuwait has filed a petition for the Constitutional Court to rule on a 2006 electoral law that lowered the number of constituencies and was intended to reduce the possibility of vote buying and tribal influences. In June the Constitutional Court annulled the February parliamentary elections, which resulted in an opposition majority comprised mainly of Islamists, and reinstated the previous assembly that was more aligned with the government. With the government’s decision to appeal to the Constitutional Court—a move the opinion condemns—it is likely that elections slated for October will be pushed back until after a decision has been reached.

Source: ElectionGuide

Kuwait votes for new parliament

Posted: 02/02/2012
Kuwaitis went to the polls on Thursday to vote for the fifty seats of the National Assembly. Kuwait’s emir, Amir SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah, called the election after dissolving the parliament in December. This will be Kuwait’s fourth new parliament in six years.

Source: ElectionGuide

First-Ever Women Win Seats In Kuwaiti Parliament

Posted: 05/20/2009
Four women won seats in the Kuwaiti Parliament on Saturday for the first time ever. While women received the right to vote and contest office in 2005, none was was successful in 2006 or 2008. All four victors are university professors. Emir Sheikh Sabah al-AHMAD al-SABAH dissolved parliament and called new elections earlier this year following disagreements with the body over who should control the cabinet.

Source: ElectionGuide

Views- Kuwaiti elections results

Posted: 05/18/2009
Voters in the only democracy in the Gulf tell the BBC what they think of their election results, which has returned women to parliament for the first time.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Kuwait votes for first female MPs

Posted: 05/16/2009
Kuwaiti voters elect their first female MPs in early elections called after the emir dissolved parliament two months ago.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Kuwaiti PM forms new government

Posted: 01/12/2009
Kuwait's PM forms a new cabinet, replacing the previous government which quit in November after a dispute with parliament.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Islamists win 24 of 50 seats in Parliament of Kuwait

Posted: 05/20/2008
The Islamists gained two seats over the last round of elections two years ago, but it is not clear how their greater share of power will affect the Kuwaiti Parliament.

Read full story. Source: Africa & Middle East - International Herald Tribune

In democracy Kuwait trusts, but not much

Posted: 05/08/2008
Overshadowed by the economic achievements of its neighbors, all absolute monarchies, Kuwaitis are wondering whether democracy is living up to its promises.

Read full story. Source: Africa & Middle East - International Herald Tribune

Kuwaiti Woman Politician Survives Vote

Posted: 01/22/2008
KUWAIT CITY (AP) -- Kuwait's only female politician survived an attempt to oust her Tuesday by conservative lawmakers who accused her of mismanagement and endangering traditional religious values....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Kuwait government 'steps down'

Posted: 03/04/2007
The government in Kuwait submits its resignation to head off a no-confidence vote in a minister.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Kuwait passes election reform law

Posted: 07/17/2006
Kuwaiti MPs approve a key electoral reform bill which provoked a bitter political crisis two months ago.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Kuwaiti Parliament Approves Election Reform

Posted: 07/17/2006
The Kuwaiti parliament overwhelmingly approved on July 17 a bill that will reduce the number of constituencies from 25 to five. Each of the new districts will elect ten parliamentarians. The bill was approved by 60 of the 65 members of the parliament and is intended to reduce corruption by lowering the potential of vote-buying. The proposed bill triggered political unrest in May which led to the dissolution of the parliament by the emir and the organization of early elections on June 29. The opposition won 33 of the available 50 seats in the June election. 

Source: ElectionGuide

Kuwait MPs elect loyalist speaker

Posted: 07/12/2006
Kuwait's parliament re-elects its speaker as it convenes for a first session after the reformists' election victory.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Islamists, reformists win Kuwait vote

Posted: 06/30/2006
KUWAIT (Reuters) - Powerful Islamist and reformist candidates swept Kuwait's elections but women failed to win a single seat in their first attempt to run for parliament, results showed on Friday.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Reformist gains in Kuwaiti vote

Posted: 06/30/2006
Reformists make strong gains in parliamentary elections, while women candidates fail to win seats.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Women fall short of parliament representation

Posted: 06/30/2006
None of the 28 women candidates won a seat in the June 29 elections to decide the composition of the country's 50-seat parliament. The elections were the first in Kuwait to allow women to vote and run for the legislature in a country in which women make 57% percent of eligible voters. According to state media, opposition candidates secured two thirds of the seats.

Source: ElectionGuide

Women vote and run in Kuwaiti poll for first time

Posted: 06/29/2006
KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwaitis voted for a new parliament on Thursday with women running and casting ballots for the first time in a national poll in the Gulf Arab state.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Kuwaiti leader calls new election

Posted: 05/21/2006
Kuwait's emir dissolves parliament and sets new elections for 29 June amid a row over electoral reforms.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Kuwaiti leader calls early elections for June 29, 2006

Posted: 05/21/2006
On May 21, the emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah, called for early elections following a dispute between opposition members of the parliament and the government over a reform to the electoral law. A governmental body recommended a reduction in the number of electoral constituencies from 25 to 10, while the opposition asked for a sharper cut to 5 constituencies. The opposition argued that a smaller number of districts would prevent voting irregularities and other misconduct in the management of elections. The emir dismissed the parliament and called early elections citing the incapacity of the parliament to work with the government. The June elections will be the first in which women are allowed to vote.

Source: ElectionGuide

Kuwaiti election reform delayed

Posted: 05/16/2006
The Kuwaiti parliament votes to refer a controversial electoral reform bill to the Constitutional Court.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Kuwaiti women vote for first time

Posted: 04/04/2006
Kuwaiti women are allowed to cast votes for the first time in Gulf state, in a municipal by-election.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Kuwaiti women take part for the first time in elections

Posted: 04/04/2006
Kuwaiti women made history on April 4 by voting and running in a local by-election. This is the first time that women have run for an elected office, with two women among eight candidates contending seats in Salmiya, a district south of the capital. After battling for political rights for over four decades, the Kuwaiti parliament passed a bill in May 2005 granting suffrage to women. Out of the 28,000 eligible voters in Kuwait, over 16,000 or 60% of them are women. The April 4 by-election paved the way for women to take part in Kuwait’s parliamentary election scheduled for July next year. This election would be the first since Kuwait’s new Emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, took office this year after the death of his brother.

Source: ElectionGuide

Kuwaiti MPs confirm crown prince

Posted: 02/20/2006
Kuwait's parliament votes unanimously to approve Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad as crown prince.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Kuwait Passes Amendment Granting Women the Right to Vote

Posted: 05/20/2005
The parliament passed an amendment to the electoral law on May 16 granting women the right to vote and hold elected office. A clause attached to the amendment requires that female politicians and voters ‘abide by Islamic law’, which may still allow restrictions on their participation in election campaigns. The Kuwait's emir, Sheik Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah, had granted political rights to women in 1999, but his decree was blocked six months later by conservative Islamists in the National Assembly.

Source: ElectionGuide

Kuwait's Parliament Approves Bill Granting Women the Right to Vote

Posted: 05/17/2004
On May 16, Kuwait’s Council of Ministers approved a bill that would grant women the right to vote and stand for election. Based on the constitution, the bill must now be approved by the Emir, Sheikh JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah, before it can be approved by parliament. If approved, it would allow women to participate in the parliamentary elections in 2007.

Source: ElectionGuide

Kuwait Approves Draft Law Regarding Women's Right to Vote

Posted: 10/14/2003
The Kuwaiti government approved a draft law on October 13 which would allow its female citizens to vote and participate as candidates. The draft law would allow women the right to run for office only in municipal elections. The draft requires the consent of both the National Assembly and Amir Sheikh JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah in order to become law.

Source: ElectionGuide

Kuwait Announces Preliminary Results of Parliamentary Elections

Posted: 07/08/2003
On July 5, voters in Kuwait cast their ballots to elect members in the 50-seat parliament. Based on the preliminary results, about 21 seats were secured by fundamentalist groups, 14 by pro-cabinet groups, 3 seats by liberal parties, and the remaining 12 seats were secured by independents.  Final results will not be released by the government until Sunday July 13.

Source: ElectionGuide

Kuwait's Cabinet Passes Bill Calling for Parliamentary Elections on July 5

Posted: 05/19/2003
On May 18, members of Kuwait’s Cabinet approved a bill calling for parliamentary elections on July 5.? Upon ratification by the emir of Kuwait Sheikh Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah, the bill will allow candidates to compete for membership in the 50-seat National Assembly.? However, the bill will not allow women to vote or run for office.

Source: ElectionGuide

Kuwait Announces Parliamentary Election Date of July 5

Posted: 04/21/2003
On April 22, the government of Kuwait announced that it will hold parliamentary elections on July 5, 2003. According to Deputy Premier Mohammed AL-SHARER, the date was agreed upon by both government officials and members of the National Assembly, with candidates required to register from June 2 until June 11. 

Source: ElectionGuide

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