Kuwait Holds Elections, Voting Continues After Breaking the Fast Until Midnight

Kuwait held another election to elect 50 members of the National Assembly. This is the second election held during Ramadan.

KOMPAS/IWAN SANTOSA

The residents of Kuwait cast their votes to elect members of parliament or the National Assembly in an election in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on Thursday (4/4/2024).

KUWAIT CITY, KOMPAS - The Kuwaiti government held a simultaneous election throughout Thursday (4/4/2024). This is the third election in the past three years in the wealthy Gulf Arab country. The election was held only less than four months after Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah (83) was appointed as the Emir of Kuwait, replacing his half-brother, Sheikh Nawaf, who passed away in December 2023.

This election is held to select 50 members of parliament or the National Assembly. Voting takes place during the day and at night. Polling stations open at 12:00 local time and close at 24:00.

In total there were 428,785 female voters and 405,948 male voters in this election. Of the 200 parliamentary candidates, there are 14 female candidates. Kuwait was praised, among other things, because as a monarchy, it attempted to practice democracy and open women's representation in parliament.

”Kuwait women get equal opportunities. They have to fight to gain the trust of the people. They have to go to community halls which are traditionally centered on existing clans," said Clemens Chay, a Middle East expert from the National University of Singapore who reviewed the 2024 Kuwait Election, to Compass.

As in last year's election, Kompas was again invited by the Government of Kuwait to cover this year's election.

Also read: Watching the Kuwait Election, a Celebration of Democracy in the Gulf Arab Countries

Chay stated that female candidates in Kuwait must regularly visit to introduce themselves and listen to complaints and suggestions from residents at their constituency's houses or clan halls.

AP/JABER ABDULKHALEG

A woman puts her ballot in the legislative election at a polling station in Bayan School in Bayan District, Kuwait, on Thursday (4/4/2024).

Fajr, a staff member of the Kuwait Ministry of Information who accompanied the journalists, stated that a number of well-known female parliament members have been staunchly advocating for issues related to women's welfare, children, and public housing.

Like other advanced urban countries, the issue of public housing is also a challenge for Kuwait, which earns over 67,000 US dollars per year (2022). Kuwait, a country with a population of more than 4.3 million people, is known as the world's sixth-largest oil reserve holder.

Also read: Elections Show Kuwait's Pioneering in the Region

Throughout observations at several schools designated as polling stations, residents come and go. At Aminah Elementary School in the 1st Election District of Dasma, for example, female officers from the General Election Commission (KPU) were seen receiving voters who were exercising their voting rights. Some voters arrived in wheelchairs.

KOMPAS/IWAN SANTOSA

Officers help a woman to vote in Kuwait's elections in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Thursday (4/4/2024).

After that, the group of media and academics observed the voting process at Abdullah Al-Otaibi School. Voters dressed in traditional Arab and casual clothing came and went.

Hessa, along with other staff at the Kuwait Ministry of Information, stated that many citizens were only able to exercise their right to vote after breaking their fast. This is the second election held in Kuwait during the holy month of Ramadan.

After the polls were closed, vote counting was conducted at midnight local time. The election results will be known on Friday (5/4/2024). After the election results are announced, the government formed by the new emir resigns.

Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah dissolved the National Assembly in February 2024 after the Kuwaiti parliament was found to have violated the constitution, including the use of "aggressive and inappropriate language" by one of the National Assembly members in responding to the Emir's criticism.

Also read: Sheikh Nawaf, "Forgiving Emir" Builder of Bridges Across Differences

Sheikh Meshal (83) criticized the cabinet and parliament in his inauguration speech at the National Assembly in December 2023. Among other things, he announced an era of reform by appointing a foreign minister for the first time from outside the emirate's membership.

A few hours after the Emir's speech, the administration of Sheikh Ahmed al-Nawaf resigned. Sheikh Mohammad Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah formed a new government, including the appointment of new ministers such as the Minister of Oil, Minister of Finance, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Interior, and Minister of Defense.

AFP/YASSER AL-ZAYYAT

There are no forbidden words in this article. Original Article: Partai Gerindra merespons langkah kubu Partai Golkar yang merapat ke koalisi pemerintah. Wakil Ketua Umum Partai Gerindra, Arief Poyuono menilai Partai Golkar sudah terlalu lama berada di dalam koalisi pemerintah dan perlu mencari alternatif lain. English Translation: The Gerindra Party responds to the move of the Golkar Party's faction that has joined the government coalition. Gerindra Party Vice Chairman, Arief Poyuono, considers that the Golkar Party has been in the government coalition for too long and needs to look for alternative options.

In Kuwait, the National Assembly has greater influence compared to similar bodies in other Gulf Arab monarchies. However, political deadlock often occurs, leading to the changing of cabinets and dissolution of parliament. This often causes a paralysis in policymaking.

In the Kuwaiti political system, the Emir still holds the highest decisions. The National Assembly was repeatedly dissolved after deadlock.

Women's participation

Another prominent feature of the political system in Kuwait is the involvement of women. Women's involvement in the Kuwaiti parliament began when the National Assembly approved the government proposal to amend Article 1 of the Electoral Law, which allowed women to exercise their right to vote and be elected. The decision was made on May 16, 2005.

In April 2006, Kuwaiti women exercised their right to vote for the first time, with some becoming parliamentary candidates. At that time, Janan Boshehri, a female engineer, announced her candidacy in the supplementary elections for the City Council.

Also read: Kuwait Women Increasingly Squeezed

In the 2008 election, 27 women in Kuwait ran as candidates for members of the National Assembly. However, none were elected at the time. They prepared themselves for the 2009 election. In that election, four Kuwaiti women won seats in parliament. They were Masouma al-Mubarak, Rola Dashti, Salwa al-Jassar, and Aseel al-Awadi.

AP/JABER ABDULKHALEG

Kuwaiti women queue up to exercise their voting rights during the legislative election at Bayan School in Bayan District, Kuwait, on Thursday (4/4/2024).

In the 2012 parliamentary elections, three Kuwaiti women once again won seats in parliament. They are Masouma al-Mubarak, Safaa al-Hashem, and Thekra al-Rashidi. A year later, Masouma al-Mubarak and Safa al-Hashem won parliamentary seats again.

Also read: Kuwait, Openness and the Challenges of Democracy

In the 2016 election, only one woman made it to parliament, namely Safaa al-Hashem. Four years later, not a single woman obtained a seat in parliament. Kuwaiti women returned to occupy parliament seats in the 2022 election with the election of Alia al-Khaled and Jinan Bushahri. A year later, Bushahri was re-elected.

(AP/AFP/Reuters)