Kuwait's 18th National Assembly elections began on 4 April, with 255 candidates contesting in five constituencies across the country, eventually electing 50 MPs. The Electoral Intelligence Centre announced the results the following day, with the opposition winning a majority, winning 29 of the 50 seats.
Kuwait is the only Arab country in the Persian Gulf with an elected parliament. Kuwait evolved from the Emirate of Kuwait, founded by the Al-Sabah family in the mid-18th century, and achieved independence in 1961. After the 86-year-old Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, died on 16 December 2023, his 83-year-old half-brother Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Sabah succeeded to the throne as the new emir.
Kuwaitis boast a long and dynamic history of political participation, with mechanisms for electing public institutions dating back to around 1930. In November 1962, Kuwait's constitution was promulgated and the following year the National Assembly was established. According to the Constitution, the Kuwaiti National Assembly serves as the country's legislative body, whose main task is to enact and approve national laws and regulations and to oversee the implementation of state finances.
It is noteworthy that the Prime Minister and ministers, if not elected as members of parliament, can automatically assume parliamentary functions by virtue of their office. However, their number may not exceed one third of the elected MPs. Kuwaiti women have had full voting rights since 2006. Approximately 835,000 voters took part in the recent elections, with women accounting for 51.4 % of the electorate, resulting in the election of one female MP.
The National Assembly initially played an important role in democratic oversight and advisory functions. However, the power struggle between the parliament and the government has shaped Kuwait's unique political environment in the region. "The National Assembly has brought about significant changes in various aspects of the country's development, including society, culture, health, education and more," local constituent Mousall al-Bakr told CMG.
In contrast, the National Assembly has the power to question the prime minister and ministers on internal and external policies, leading to long-standing disputes between parliament and the Al-Sabah family-appointed cabinets, sometimes leading to political crises. Over the past decade, the Kuwaiti National Assembly has repeatedly expressed no confidence in the government. Although the emir can veto these proposals, under the constitution the parliament can override a veto with a two-thirds majority. However, fundamentally resolving the structural contradictions between parliament and the government remains challenging and may also affect the Emir's credibility.
On 15 February, a Kuwaiti government committee condemned "inappropriate" and "offensive" remarks made during a parliamentary session on 7 February and subsequently asked the Emir to dissolve parliament. Mishal then signed a decree by the Emir agreeing to the Government Committee's request and calling for new elections to the National Assembly within 60 days, in accordance with the Constitution. The current Emir is determined to resolve the "conflict between the government and parliament". The dissolution of parliament has become a recurrent measure that underlines the challenges faced in maintaining stability and the transition from oil dependence to economic diversification.
Frequent elections also create economic pressure on candidates. A Kuwaiti who participated in previous elections and who did not wish to be named reported that the campaign costs of all candidates in the last elections exceeded 150 000 Kuwaiti dinars (approximately USD 487 977), with some candidates in highly contested constituencies spending up to a million dollars. Given the high costs, it is increasingly challenging for ordinary people to compete against financially powerful opponents.
Over the past decade, the Kuwaiti National Assembly has repeatedly expressed no confidence in the government. Although the Emir can veto these motions, under the constitution the parliament can override a veto with a two-thirds majority. However, fundamentally resolving the structural contradictions between parliament and the government remains challenging and may also affect the Emir's credibility.
In December 2023, after ascending the throne as the 17th head of state, the Emir Mishal criticised the parliament and the government for harming national interests and declared that they were not fulfilling their "national duties". Kuwait University professor Badr Sayyaf described this as "one of the most powerful and significant speeches by a newly appointed monarch", in which he clearly condemned the government and parliament in an unprecedented manner. The current Emir is determined to resolve the "conflict between the government and parliament". The dissolution of parliament has become a recurrent measure, underlining the challenges of maintaining stability and the transition from oil dependence to economic diversification.
Despite Kuwait's active political life, long-standing disagreements between the legislature and the executive have to some extent deprived Kuwait of the institutional stability needed to transition from oil dependence to economic diversification.
Zhang Zhuoya, Wang Xuejing
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