Kuwait

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Kuwait Image File history File links Kuwait_coa. ... Politics of Kuwait takes place in a framework of a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, whereby the Emir is the head of government. ...

Al-Sabah Dynasty Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prime Minister Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah National Assembly Political parties Elections: 2006 Governorates Foreign relations Human rights

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Elections in Kuwait are held for both the National Assembly (Majlis al-Umma) and for the Municipality. Kuwait's 1962 constitution calls for elections to the unicameral National Assembly at a maximum interval of four years. Elections are held earlier if the Emir exercises his constitutional power to dissolve the parliament. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This is an (incomplete) list of emirs of Kuwait: The Sabah dynasty came to power in 1752, before which date the Bani Khalid tribe ruled the region. ... Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah with U.S. president George W. Bush at the White House Sabah IV Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (Arabic: صباح الأحمد الجابر الصباح Sabāh al-Ahmad al-Jābir as-Sabāh; born 1929) is the Emir of Kuwait. ... Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah: (13 Jul 2003 - present) ... Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah is the Prime minister of the state of Kuwait. ... The National Assembly of Kuwait, known as the Majlis Al-Umma, is the parliament of Kuwait. ... Politics of Kuwait Categories: Stub | Lists of political parties | Kuwait | Kuwaiti political parties ... The Kuwaiti parliamentary election of 2006 was held on June 29, 2006. ... The five governorates (muhafazat) of Kuwait are Al Ahmadi Al Farwaniyah Al Asimah Al Jahra Hawalli Categories: Lists of subnational entities | Kuwait | Governorates of Kuwait | Governorates ... Following independence in June 1961, Kuwait faced its first major foreign policy problem arising from Iraqi claims to Kuwaits territory. ... Human rights in Kuwait are mixed. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... The National Assembly of Kuwait, known as the Majlis Al-Umma, is the parliament of Kuwait. ... The National Assembly of Kuwait, known as the Majlis Al-Umma, is the parliament of Kuwait. ...

Suffrage

Kuwait has universal adult suffrage for Kuwaiti citizens who are 21 or older, with the exception of

( 1 ) those who currently serve in the armed forces and, ( 2 ) citizens who have been naturalized for fewer than 30 years.

The Explanatory Memorandum of the Constitution bars members of the ruling family of the Mubarak branch (the branch from which the Emir must descend) from running for election to the National Assembly, though the Memorandum does not explicitly prohibit these members of the ruling family from casting votes. It is not clear if the prohibition on candidacies would be enforced.^[1] Some members of the ruling family are found on the voter rolls, though prominent members of the family do not vote.

In 1996 naturalized citizens were given the right to vote, but only after they had been naturalized for at least 30 years.

The franchise was expanded to include women on May 16, 2005, in a 35-23 vote with one abstention. Under pressure from Islamists, the right of women to run as candidates and to vote was made subject to Islamic Law: for example, men and women will vote in separate polling places. May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (137th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sharia (Arabic شريعة also Sharia, Shariah or Syariah) is traditional Islamic law. ...

Most residents of Kuwait are not citizens and consequently do not have the right to vote. Kuwait's citizenship law, in theory, gives citizenship to those who descend, in the male line, from residents of Kuwait in 1920. 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 3 - Babe Ruth is traded by the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees for $125,000, the largest sum ever paid for a player at that time. ...

Districts and voting procedures

Kuwait is divided into 25 electoral districts, each of which elects two members to the National Assembly, for a total of 50 elected members (additional members sit as appointed members of the cabinet). Each voter can cast ballots for two candidates, though it is also possible to vote for only one candidate. In each district the candidates who win the largest and second largest number of votes earn seats in the National Assembly. The National Assembly of Kuwait, known as the Majlis Al-Umma, is the parliament of Kuwait. ...

Kuwait was divided into ten districts in the National Assembly elections between 1963 and 1975. Each district elected five deputies to the Assembly. Before the 1981 elections the government redistricted Kuwait, creating the current system of 25 districts. Following the redistricting, fewer Shi'ite candidates won seats in the Assembly. This was a deliberate result of the redistricting, and it followed the 1979 Revolution in Iran. 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Protestors take to the street in support of Ayatollah Khomeini. ...

In recent years many Kuwaitis have called for decreasing the number of districts to ten, five or even one. It is hoped that this would make vote buying more difficult and decrease the importance of tribe, family and sect in elections.

Primaries

Primaries are illegal in Kuwait, though the prohibition is rarely enforced and in practice tribes (and in some districts, sects) do hold primaries. These primaries allow tribes to avoid splitting their votes among a number of different candidates, thus helping tribes to ensure that their members vote for one or two candidates, making it more likely that these canddiates will win seats in the National Assembly. Many non-tribal Kuwaitis oppose these primaries on the grounds that it increases the importance of tribal affiliation and makes it more difficult for those who do not belong to tribes to win seats in predominantly tribal districts.

Fairness of elections and government interference

Elections in Kuwait meet a relatively high standard of fairness. The government does not interfere in the counting of the ballots (the one exception was the election of 1967 in which the government manipulated the results in a few districts). 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ...

The Kuwaiti media - with a number of Arabic language dailies - extensively covers campaigns. Candidates have ample opportunities to meet with voters. The very small size of districts makes electronic media less important in elections. Candidates enjoy a wide degree of freedom to take political stands, and the press extensively covers statements made by candidates.

In recent years Kuwaiti elections have been marred by persistent reports of vote buying. Both the government and wealthy candidates are accused of buying votes, and it is widely thought that the overall effect is to help pro-government candidates. In the 2003 elections several groups launched campaigns to discourage Kuwaitis from selling their votes. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Some candidates emphasize their close ties to the government and promise that, if elected, they will deliver government services to their constitutent. In the parliament, these deputies are known as "service deputies." It is widely thought in Kuwait that the government promises the delivery of services to other deputies in exchange for votes on important issues.

Election results

It can be difficult to summarize Kuwaiti election results. While it is possible to determine how well the members of formal political groups fare in elections, most candidates do not belong to one of the formal political groups. Some of these candidates may receive support from one of the formal political groups and others adopt a clear ideological position as Islamists, liberals, or leftists. Some candidates associate themselves with the government. Yet in a number of cases it is difficult to determine, and to classify, the ideological positions of candidates and deputies.^[2]

In the 2003 elections the liberal/left Minbar al-Dimuqrati group lost the two seats it held in the 1999 parliament. The Salafis doubled their representation, to 6 seats. The Muslim Brothers lost several seats, winning only 2 in the 2003 elections. The Popular Bloc lost 4 of its 10 seats. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Old Farts by the Sometimes-United Nations. ... This article is on the beliefs of the followers of the Salaf. ... Muslim Brotherhood symbol. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Once elected, many deputies form voting blocs in the National Assembly. Following the 2003 elections, according to Al-Dustoor (a Kuwaiti newspaper published by the National Assembly, July 20, 2003) 16 deputies joined the Islamist bloc; 6 joined the Popular Bloc (a populist group that includes both bedouin and Shi'i deputies); 4 joined the liberal bloc. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Turnout was around 80.0% in the elections, held on July 5, 2003.^[3] July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 179 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Election history

The earliest modern elections in Kuwait were held in 1921. Elections were held again in June and then in December of 1938 for a majlis al-tashri'i, or Legislative Council. The ruling family dissolved the second Council in 1939. Following independence in 1961 elections were held in 1962 to elect 20 members to the constitutional convention. 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ...

The 1962 constitution calls for elections to be held at a maximum interval of four years (or earlier if the Emir dissolves the parliament). Kuwait's first National Assembly was elected in 1963. Subsequent elections were held in 1967, 1971, and 1975. In 1976, however, the Emir issued a decree suspending the parliament. New elections were held in 1981 and again in 1985, but the Emir again suspended the parliament in 1986. Following protests, the government held elections to an unconstitutional majlis al-watani in 1990, just before the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Most Kuwaitis rejected this majlis: organized political groups, across the political spectrum, boycotted the elections and did not run candidates. Only a few deputies from previous parliaments ran for seats in the majlis al-watani, and most of these were from outlying Bedouin districts. Fulfilling a promise made during the Iraqi occupation, the Emir held new elections for the National Assembly in 1992. Elections were held again in 1996. On May 4, 1999, the Emir once again dissolved the National Assembly. This time, however, it was done through entirely constitutional means, and new elections were held on July 3, 1999. Parliamentary elections were next held on 5 July 2003. On May 21, 2006, the Emir dissolved the National Assembly through constitutional means. The National Assembly of Kuwait, known as the Majlis Al-Umma, is the parliament of Kuwait. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... A Bedouin man resting on a hillside at Mount Sinai Bedouin, derived from the Arabic (‎), a generic name for a desert-dweller, is a term generally applied to Arab nomadic pastoralist groups, who are found throughout most of the desert belt extending from the Atlantic coast of the Sahara via... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Old Farts by the Sometimes-United Nations. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Old Farts by the Sometimes-United Nations. ... July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 179 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 21 is the 141st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (142nd in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The next elections were held on June 29, 2006. This was the first general election in which Kuwaiti women could vote. Over 340,000 Kuwaitis, including about 195,000 women, were eligible to vote for 253 candidates, including 28 women^[4], but the women candidates failed to win a single seat ^{[5] [6]} . June 29 is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 185 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Latest results

June 29 is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 185 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Assembly of Kuwait, known as the Majlis Al-Umma, is the parliament of Kuwait. ...

Past results

The National Assembly of Kuwait, known as the Majlis Al-Umma, is the parliament of Kuwait. ...

References

1. ^ Al-Qabas, May 31, 2006
2. ^ Complete results for elections to the National Assembly, and elections to the assemblies of 1921 and 1938-39, can be found at the Kuwait Politics Database.
3. ^ Turnout, according to Rulers.org
4. ^ "Kuwaiti Women Join the Voting After a Long Battle for Suffrage" by Hassan M. Fattah, The New York Times, June 30, 2006 (Free registration required)
5. ^ IFES Country Profile Kuwait
6. ^ Ismail Küpeli: Kuwait: Frauen dürfen jetzt wählen. from: Direkte Aktion (Nr. 177, Sept. / Okt. 2006), p.9-10

The New York Times is a newspaper published in New York City by Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr. ...

See also

• Electoral calendar
• Electoral system

This electoral calendar lists the national/federal direct elections in the countries listed in the list of countries. ...

External links

• Kuwait Politics Database
• Adam Carr's Election Archive
• Al-Jazeera: Kuwaiti women vote (29 June 2006)
• Al-Jazeera: Kuwait still divided on women's vote (22 June 2006)