2016 Kuwaiti general election
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 Kuwait portal |
Early general elections were held in Kuwait on 26 November 2016. They follow the dissolution of the parliament elected in 2013 by Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in October 2016.[1] Under the constitution, elections must be held within two months.[2] Opposition candidates won 24 of the 50 seats in the National Assembly.[3] Voter turnout was around 70 percent.[3]
Electoral system
The 50 elected members of the National Assembly were elected from five 10-seat constituencies by single non-transferable vote.[4]
Results
Opposition Islamist candidates (Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi) won around half of the 24 seats won by the opposition, whilst the Shia minority was reduced to six seats from ten seats.[5][6] One woman was elected, with only around 20 of the 42 MPs seeking re-election retaining their seats.[7] Although large tribes tend to fare well in Kuwaiti elections, the 2016 elections saw small tribes asserting themselves for the first time. Members of three of Kuwait's largest tribes – Ajman, Matran, and Awazem – together won just seven seats in the election, down from fifteen.[8]
Aftermath
Following the elections, a new Speaker of the National Assembly was elected on 11 December. Marzouq Al-Ghanim was elected with 48 votes, defeating Abdullah Al-Roumi (9 votes) and Shueib Al-Muweizri (8 votes).
References
- ^ Kuwait emir dissolves parliament over fuel price row BBC News, 16 October 2016
- ^ Stage set for snap elections after Assembly dissolved – Amir cites ‘security challenges’ in dissolution decree Kuwait Times, 16 October 2016
- ^ a b Kuwait poll: Opposition wins nearly half of parliament Al Jazeera, 27 November 2016
- ^ Electoral system Inter-Parliamentary Union
- ^ "The Danger to Kuwait is Authoritarianism".
The Shia currently hold 10 out of 50 seats in the National Assembly and have generally served as a bulwark against the opposition since 2008.
- ^ Sectarianism and authoritarianism in Kuwait Washington Times
- ^ Strong showing by opposition, outgoing Assembly punished Kuwait Times, 27 November 2016
- ^ After big election win, what’s next for Kuwait’s opposition? Courtney Freer, Journal of Middle Eastern Politics and Policy, 8 December 2016
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