2024 Kuwaiti general election

Snap general elections were held in Kuwait on 4 April 2024 to elect 50 of the 65 members of the National Assembly.[1][2] The election came after the dissolution of the National Assembly elected in 2023 on 15 February 2024 due to an MP allegedly insulting Emir Mishal Al-Ahmad.[3] The elections were the first to be held during Mishal Al-Ahmad's reign and the fourth election held within four years.

2024 Kuwaiti general election
Kuwait
← 2023 4 April 2024 Next →

50 of the 65 seats in the National Assembly
Turnout62.10% (Increase 2.83pp)
Party Vote % Seats +/–
Salafi Alliance

3.41 3 0
Hadas

3.36 1 −2
Taalof

3.18 2 0
Hashd

3.09 2 +1
Thawabit Al-Umma

3.03 2 +1
KDF

0.98 1 +1
Justice and Peace Alliance

0.86 1 +1
Independents

82.08 38 −2
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

Electoral system

edit

The 50 elected members of the National Assembly were elected from five ten-seat constituencies by single non-transferable vote.[4] Political parties are not officially licensed meaning candidates formally run as independents, although many political groups operate freely as de facto political parties.[5] All Kuwaiti citizens above the age of 21 have the right to vote.

Constituencies

edit

Since 2006 Kuwait has been divided into five multi-member constituencies for the election of members to the unicameral National Assembly.[6] These five electoral districts represent 112 residential areas distributed among the six governorates of Kuwait. Regardless of the amount of electorates, all constituencies directly elects 10 representatives to the National Assembly, for a total of 50 elected members out of 65.

Constituency 2024 Electorate[7] Seats
First 104,038 10
Second 95,302 10
Third 143,693 10
Fourth 220,932 10
Fifth 270,768 10

Candidates

edit

Any Kuwaiti-born citizen who is 30 years of age on election day, who is able to read and write in Arabic and has not been convicted of a felony or a crime involving breach of honor or trust is eligible to run for office. On 22 June 2016 parliament passed a law banning any citizen who had insulted the emir from running,[8] resulting in several major opposition figures including Musallam Al-Barrak becoming ineligible candidates. All registered candidates need to pay a registration fee of fifty Kuwaiti Dinars (about US$162.50).

Registration of candidates took place between 4 and 13 March 2024. A total of 255 candidates registered to contest the elections.[9]

Female Candidates

edit

Fourteen women registered to run in the 2023 election, the lowest since the 2016 election. The only female MP during the 17th session, Jenan Boushehri, re-ran for office. Eight female candidates ran in the Third Constituency, two candidates ran in the Second and Fourth constituencies, and only one ran in the First and Fifth.

Secularist Blocs

edit

Two Kuwait Democratic Forum-affiliated members are running in the current election. Mohammed Jawhar Hayat in the first constituency and Saud Al-Babtain in the second constituency.[10]

Populist Blocs

edit

The Popular Action Bloc led by former MP Musallam Al-Barrak announced three candidates for this election. Basel Al-Bahrani in the first constituency, Mutib Al-Rathaan of the fourth constituency and Mohammad Al-Dossari in the fourth constituency.

Sunni Islamist Blocs

edit

Hadas, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, decided to field four candidates in four different constituencies. Mohammad Al-Matar replacing Osama Al-Shaheen in the first constituency. Hamad Almatar and Abdulaziz Al-Saqabi will rerun in the second and third constituencies respectively. Muaath Al-Duwaila, son of former MP Mubarak Al-Duwaila, will run in the fourth constituency.[11]

The Islamic Salafi Alliance have four candidates in this election. Three of these candidates were in the last session, Fahad Al-Masoud of the second constituency, Hamad Al-Obaid of the third, and Mubarak Al-Tasha of the fourth. Abdullah Al-Kandari will run in the fifth constituency for the Salafi Alliance. The salafist group, Thawabit Al-Umma, will have two candidates running in the elections. Current MP Mohammed Hayef al-Mutairi and the recently exonerated Bader Al-Dahoum.[12]

Shia Islamist Blocs

edit

The Justice and Peace Alliance, affiliated with the Shirazi Shiite school, registered two candidates Saleh Ashour in the first constituency and Khalil Al-Saleh in the second constituency. Taalof, a group that broke off from the National Islamic Alliance,[further explanation needed] have registered three candidates including two who were in the last session. Their three candidates are Ahmed Lari of the first constituency, Abdullah Ghandfar of the third constituency and Hani Shams of the fifth constituency.[13]

Conduct

edit

The election was the second in Kuwait to be held during Ramadan. Polling opened at 12:00 and closed at midnight. Around 834,000 citizens were eligible to vote. Sheikh Mishal called for a high turnout, saying that those who boycott the election were relinquishing their constitutional right.[14]

Results

edit

Results showed that opposition politicians maintained their majority in the National Assembly, retaining the 29 seats (out of 50) that it had won in the last election. One female candidate was elected, the same as in the previous election, while Shia MPs won eight seats, an increase of one. The Islamic Constitutional Movement, a local branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, saw its seats decrease from three to one. Eleven MPs lost their bids for reelection. Analysts said that the election result would mean a continuation of the political dispute between Sheikh Mishal and parliament, which during its upcoming term, is expected to rule on the nomination of a crown prince.[15]

The Kuwaiti Information Ministry said that turnout in the election was at 62%.[15]

 
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Islamic Salafi Alliance17,5293.4130
Islamic Constitutional Movement17,2673.361−2
National Islamic Alliance (Taalof)16,3203.1820
Popular Action Bloc15,8863.092+1
Thawabit Al-Umma15,5773.032New
Kuwait Democratic Forum5,0410.981New
Justice and Peace Alliance4,4150.861+1
Independents421,49482.0838−3
Total513,529100.00500
Valid votes513,52999.07
Invalid/blank votes4,8360.93
Total votes518,365100.00
Registered voters/turnout834,73362.10
Source: Al Qabas, Al Araby

By constituency

edit
CandidatePartyVotes%Notes
First constituency
Osama Zaid Al-ZaidIndependent4,9367.99Re-elected
Abdullah Jassem Al-MudhafIndependent4,7297.66Re-elected
Mohammed Johar HayatKuwait Democratic Forum4,1346.69Elected
Ahmed LariNational Islamic Alliance (Taalof)4,1086.65Re-elected
Essa Al-KandariIndependent3,6785.95Re-elected
Basel Hussein Al-BahraniPopular Action Bloc3,6315.88Elected
Adel Jassim Al-DamkhiIndependent3,5305.72Re-elected
Khaled Marzouq Al-AmeeraIndependent3,5025.67Re-elected
Saleh AshourJustice and Peace Alliance3,3995.50Elected
Mohammed Barrak Al-AzmiIndependent3,2495.26Elected
Hamad Al-MidlijIndependent3,0955.01Unseated
Ali Hassan JaafarIndependent2,6374.27
Mohammed Al-MatarIslamic Constitutional Movement2,3553.81
Ali Hussein Ali Al-MousaIndependent2,2163.59
Ahmed Khalifa Rashid Mohammed Al-ShahoumiIndependent2,0933.39
Ali Falah Al-SabriIndependent1,9353.13
Abdul Samad Mustafa Sayed ZahidIndependent1,5252.47
Ali Abdul Rahman Al-KandariIndependent1,4602.36
Maitham Abdullah Abdul Redha Mohammed AwadIndependent1,4122.29
Abdullah Mohammed Abdul Rahman Abdul Mohsen Al-TarijiIndependent1,3692.22
Abdullah Marzouq Al-RumiIndependent1,0141.64
Abdullah Abdul Wahab Al HarazIndependent8211.33
Nasser Mohammed Al-NasrallahIndependent4430.72
Abdul Wahab Abdul Rahman Al KandariIndependent2560.41
Abdullah Mohammed Al-MutairiIndependent460.07
Fatima Khaled KaramIndependent290.05
Issa Hajji MusaIndependent270.04
Mustafa Yacoub Youssef BehbehaniIndependent230.04
Ibrahim Mohammed Al BalushiIndependent190.03
Abdullah Abdul Hussein MuzaffarIndependent170.03
Walid Ahmed Al-QabandiIndependent160.03
Hamza Abbas Al-ErianIndependent160.03
Fakhri Hashem SayedFakhri Sayyed RajabIndependent140.02
Ali Kazem bin ZaidIndependent110.02
Jirah Ali NourIndependent60.01
Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al-AjmiIndependent50.01
Abdul Rahman Khalawi Al-ShamaliIndependent40.01
Mohammed Sanad HanifIndependent30.00
Fahd Abdullah MuzealIndependent20.00
Abdullah Ali Al-KhabazIndependent10.00
Total61,766100.00
Registered voters/turnout104,038
Second constituency
Marzouq Al-GhanimIndependent8,29513.43Re-elected
Shuaib ShabaanIndependent6,32510.24Re-elected
Abdulwahab Aref Al-IssaIndependent3,9176.34Re-elected
Falah Dhahi Al-HajriIndependent3,3425.41Re-elected
Mohammed Al-MutairIndependent3,2465.26Re-elected
Bader Nashmi Al-EnaziIndependent3,2385.24Re-elected
Nawaf Bhaish Al-AzmiIndependent3,0644.96Elected
Abdullah Turki Al-AnbaieIndependent2,9144.72Re-elected
Bader Al-MullaIndependent2,7584.47Re-elected
Fahad Abdulaziz Al-MasoudIslamic Salafi Alliance2,7084.39Re-elected
Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Al-HamadIndependent2,6664.32
Mansour Mazal Al SarheedIndependent2,5054.06
Hamad AlmatarIslamic Constitutional Movement2,4904.03Unseated
Huwaidi Sahn Al-HajriIndependent2,0753.36
Hamed Mahri Alian Noman Al-BathaliIndependent1,9073.09
Muthanna Ali Arboud Shannon Al-Rashed Al-BathaliIndependent1,3752.23
Omar Al-TabtabaeeIndependent1,2962.10
Thamer Khaled Farhan Radi Al-EneziIndependent1,2712.06
Hamad Hamoud Al-ShammariIndependent1,2442.01
Khalil Al-SalehJustice and Peace Alliance1,0161.65
Ali Al-DaqbaashiIndependent9901.60
Saud Khaled Al-BabtainKuwait Democratic Forum9071.47
Khaled Ayed Al-AnaziIndependent8841.43
Youssef Abdul Razzaq Al-FawzanIndependent4920.80
Saad Khaled Khalaf Nasha Al-FajjiIndependent3790.61
Fahd Samawi Al-DhafairiIndependent1860.30
Talal Ajeel Al-ShammariIndependent1220.20
Abdul Wahab Anwar Al-QattanIndependent260.04
Khaled Saad Al-RashidiIndependent220.04
Shaima Nasser Al-HajriIndependent160.03
Ahmed Mohammed Al-AjmiIndependent150.02
Hazza MutlaqIndependent120.02
Bashar Kazem Hassan Khalaf AliIndependent120.02
Ali Adel HusseinIndependent110.02
Walid Khaled ShehabIndependent90.01
Mishal Saleh Al MarriIndependent90.01
Fahd Barjas EidIndependent50.01
Abdullah Ali AbdulazizIndependent40.01
Jaber Ali Al-HouliIndependent20.00
Total61,755100.00
Registered voters/turnout95,302
Third constituency
Abdulkarim Al-KanderiIndependent9,42811.18Re-elected
Abdulaziz Tareq Al-SaqabiIslamic Constitutional Movement6,2947.46Re-elected
Muhalhal Khaled Al-MudhafIndependent5,8046.88Re-elected
Faris Saad Al-OtaibiIndependent5,7376.80Re-elected
Ahmed Al-SadounIndependent5,2506.22Re-elected
Jarrah Khaled Al-FouzanIndependent5,2386.21Re-elected
Muhannad Al-SayerIndependent5,1146.06Re-elected
Ahmed Nabil Al-FadhelIndependent5,0926.04Elected
Jenan BoushehriIndependent4,9765.90Re-elected
Hamad Adel Al-ObeidIslamic Salafi Alliance4,9085.82Re-elected
Hamad Abdulrrahman Al-OlayanIndependent4,5845.43Unseated
Abdulwahab Al-BabtainIndependent4,2094.99
Ibrahim Mohammed Ghuloum Mohammed DashtiIndependent4,1594.93
Sadoon Al-OtaibiIndependent4,1534.92
Abdullah Mustafa GhazanfarNational Islamic Alliance (Taalof)3,7754.47
Madi Ibrahim Al-KhamisIndependent2,2652.68
Khaled Juma Al-YassinIndependent1,8402.18
Mohammed Badr Mohammed Abdel Wahab Ibrahim Al-JoaanIndependent1,1031.31
Khaled Ibrahim Mazal Hazza Al-SalalIndependent1910.23
Jassim Mohammed DashtiIndependent600.07
Suhaila Abdulaziz Al-SalemIndependent540.06
Alaa Shakir FarasIndependent390.05
Zahraa Faisal Al-ShiraziIndependent150.02
Fatima Hashem AliIndependent120.01
Khaled Khairallah MishariIndependent110.01
Khalifa Khalil Ibrahim Al-TamimiIndependent90.01
Noura Jassim Mohammed Darwish Al-DarwishIndependent80.01
Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al-AjmiIndependent80.01
Abdullah Talal Abdullah Samir Faza Al-HindalIndependent70.01
Maryam Mohsen Al-MutairiIndependent60.01
Hoda Shaheen Al HammadiIndependent50.01
Mohammed Salem Hamad Rashid Al MarriIndependent40.00
Total84,358100.00
Registered voters/turnout143,693
Fourth constituency
Shuaib Al-MuwaizriIndependent15,66311.00Re-elected
Anwar Arrak Al-DhaferiIndependent8,6466.07Elected
Obaid Mohammed Al-MutairiIndependent8,1415.72Elected
Mohammad Awadh Al-RuqaibIndependent7,9705.60Re-elected
Mubarak Hammoud Al-TashaIslamic Salafi Alliance7,7075.41Re-elected
Bader Sayyar Al-ShammariIndependent7,5525.30Re-elected
Saad al-Khanfour al-RasheediIndependent7,1885.05Re-elected
Fayez Ghanam Al-JamhourIndependent7,1205.00Re-elected
Mubarak Al-HajrafIndependent6,9254.86Re-elected
Mohammed Hayef al-MutairiThawabit Al-Umma6,4734.55Re-elected
Moaz Mubarak Fahd Ali Fahd Al-DuwailahIslamic Constitutional Movement6,1284.30
Abdullah Fahad Al-EniziIndependent5,9584.19Unseated
Musaid Mohammed Abdullah Mohammed Al-Qarifa Al-MutairiIndependent5,3503.76
Thamer Saad Ghaith Ghanem Julaidan Al-Suwait Al-DhafiriIndependent5,1823.64
Miteb Ayed Al-RathaanPopular Action Bloc4,6113.24
Askar Al-EneziIndependent3,8772.72
Fawaz Thamer Mutlaq Abdullah Sultan Al-Jada'i Al-MutairiIndependent3,7322.62
Mohammed Mubarak Humaidan Abdullah Al-FajjiIndependent3,5202.47
Mohammed Saad Ruwaished Rashid Al-HarbiIndependent3,4832.45
Khalifa Mohammed Khalifa Mufarrej Al KhalifaIndependent2,9552.08
Youssef Mohammed Al-BathaliIndependent2,9332.06
Abdullah Nasser Al-TajalIndependent2,2541.58
Fahid Fahd Al RashidiIndependent1,7741.25
Nawaf Dahwi Al-MutairiIndependent1,7371.22
Fawaz Munshar Awad Dakhil Al-DhafiriIndependent1,4801.04
Thamer Mutheeb Marzouq Sheri Al-AbdaliIndependent1,2570.88
Brikan Majidil Mukayd Sumian SulaymaniIndependent1,0480.74
Eid Shaman Ayid Eid Al-Adhilah Al-MutairiIndependent7340.52
Hassan Mohsen Al-AzmiIndependent2350.17
Mohammed Badah Badhan Mahdi Al-SulaymaniIndependent1120.08
Ahmed Nassar Mutlaq Al-ShariaanIndependent790.06
Ibrahim Adel KamalIndependent790.06
Hamad Youssef Al-JadiIndependent670.05
Abdullah Ahmed AshkananiIndependent520.04
Mohammed Shenifi Mutlaq Hamad Al MajidiIndependent510.04
Nawal Saleh AbalkhailIndependent390.03
Fahima Nashmi Zamil Eiadat Al-RashidiIndependent330.02
Faisal Abdel Reda KaramIndependent300.02
Bader Nasser Turki Mohammed Al-MujawbIndependent290.02
Hussein Abdel Latif Al-SerafiIndependent230.02
Abdullah Salem Al-ShammariIndependent220.02
Yacoub Mohammed JoharIndependent210.01
Fawaz Eid Al-HabbalaIndependent190.01
Bakr Badi Saleh Freej Al-RashidiIndependent170.01
Mohammed Falah Al-SulailiIndependent160.01
Sultan Mutani Abdullah Shafaka Ghazi Al-ShammariIndependent160.01
Mutlaq Eid Awad Majid Al-AnaziIndependent130.01
Abdul Rahman Abdul Hadi Al HajriIndependent80.01
Total142,359100.00
Registered voters/turnout220,932
Fifth constituency
Fahad Falah Al-AzmiIndependent16,46910.09Re-elected
Hamdan Al-AzmiIndependent14,2118.70Re-elected
Mutib Nasser Al-SahaliIndependent11,0556.77Elected
Saud Al-AsfoorIndependent10,6436.52Re-elected
Bader Al-DahoumThawabit Al-Umma9,1045.58Elected
Majed Mussaed Al-MutairiIndependent8,8075.39Re-elected
Abdullhadi Nasser Al-AjmiIndependent8,5215.22Re-elected
Hani Hussein ShamsNational Islamic Alliance (Taalof)8,4375.17Re-elected
Mohammed Musaed Al-DawsariPopular Action Bloc7,6444.68Elected
Khaled Mohammad Al-OtaibiIndependent7,3434.50Re-elected
Mohammed Al-HuwailaIndependent6,9534.26Unseated
Mohammed Hussain Al-AjmiIndependent6,3603.89Unseated
Ayed Abu KhoussaIndependent5,5053.37
Khaled Saree Saad Hadram Al HajriIndependent5,5043.37
Faisal Mohammed Ahmed Hassan Al-KandariIndependent5,0803.11
Abdullah Al-BarghashIndependent4,5472.78
Fahd Amer Hamad Azeb Al-AjmiIndependent4,4562.73
Khaled Shakhir Ngheimesh Sharaan Al-MutairiIndependent2,7201.67
Khaled Abdullah Farraj Neef Al-MutairiIndependent2,6341.61
Jaber Khaled Al-SubaieIndependent2,4781.52
Abdullah Mohammed Al-KandariIslamic Salafi Alliance2,2061.35
Abdullah Ali Al-SanadIndependent2,0801.27
Ahmed Mohammed Mutlaq Hamoud Al-OtaibiIndependent1,7201.05
Saud Patel Al-AjmiIndependent1,6090.99
Abdul Mohsen Ali AkbarIndependent1,3750.84
Ayed Abdul Hadi Al-AjmiIndependent1,2890.79
Mubarak Fahd Al HajriIndependent1,1010.67
Saleh Nasser Al-HajriIndependent1,0870.67
Badi Hasyan Mohammed Al-Watayeb Al-DosariIndependent9360.57
Ghanem Abdullah Al-HujailanIndependent5650.35
Talal Mohammed Al-AzmiIndependent2960.18
Sabah Adnan AliIndependent1790.11
Hamdan Ibrahim Al-HamdanIndependent1650.10
Hassan Mahmoud AshkananiIndependent460.03
Ahmed Kamal Al-Din Al-SulaimiIndependent390.02
Abeer Abdul Rahman Ali Abdullah Al OtaibiIndependent330.02
Yacoub Abdullah Al-RifaiIndependent270.02
Fawzi Saqr Fahd Al-SaqrIndependent250.02
Bader Fadel KaramIndependent220.01
Mohammed Abdul Amir HusseinIndependent200.01
Total163,291100.00
Registered voters/turnout270,768
Source: Al Qabas, Al Araby

Reactions

edit

Sheikh Mishal expressed thanks to agencies and officials who were involved in organizing the election.[16] He and Prime Minister Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah also expressed his congratulations to the winners in the election.[17][18]

Adel Al Asoomi, the Speaker of the Arab Parliament, congratulated Sheikh Mishal and the Kuwaiti government for the conduct and result of the election.[19]

On 10 May Sheikh Mishal disbanded the parliament for the second time in 2024, also announcing he was suspending some articles of the constitution for up to four years and that he and members of the cabinet would be taking over the powers of the National Assembly.[20]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Kuwait to hold snap parliamentary elections on April 4". The National. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Kuwait to hold polls April 4". kuwaittimes. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Kuwait to hold parliamentary elections on April 4, latest round of voting in years of turmoil". Associated Press. 3 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  4. ^ Electoral system Inter-Parliamentary Union
  5. ^ "Kuwait polls: Opposition makes gains, gov't resignation accepted". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  6. ^ "مجلس الأمة: أقر 'الدوائر الخمس' ب60 صوتا مقابل اثنين".
  7. ^ "كونا : 834733 ناخبا وناخبة يحق لهم التصويت بانتخابات مجلس الأمة (أمة 2024) – برلمان – 13/03/2024".
  8. ^ "قانون «حرمان المسيء» في سطور".
  9. ^ "255 مرشحاً يخوضون انتخابات «أمة 24»". 13 March 2024.
  10. ^ "محمد جوهر حيات يترشح لانتخابات مجلس الأمة 2024 عن الدائرة الأولى". 3 March 2024.
  11. ^ "محمد المطر مرشحاً لـ«حدس» في الدائرة الأولى". 28 February 2024.
  12. ^ "د. بدر الداهوم يعلن ترشحه لانتخابات مجلس الأمة 2024 عن الدائرة الخامسة". 4 March 2024.
  13. ^ "إغلاق باب الترشح للبرلمان الكويتي".
  14. ^ "Kuwait Holds Parliamentary Elections as Emir Urges Voters to Make 'Sound' Choice". Asharq al-Awsat. 4 April 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Few changes after Kuwait holds first parliamentary election under new emir". Al Jazeera. 5 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Kuwait Amir thanks organizers of Nat'l Assembly elections". KUNA. 5 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Kuwait Prime Minister congratulates new Members of Parliament". KUNA. 5 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Kuwait Amir congratulates new Members of Parliament". KUNA. 5 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Arab Parliament Speaker congratulates Kuwait leadership on parliamentary election success". KUNA. 5 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Kuwait's Emir dissolves parliament, suspends some constitution articles". Reuters. 10 May 2024.