February 2012 Kuwaiti general election explained

Early general elections were held in Kuwait on 2 February 2012, the country's second general election in a three-year period. The election's turnout rate was 59%.[1] However, in June 2012 the Constitutional Court declared the elections invalid and reinstated the former parliament. The court said the dissolution of Parliament in December 2011 by Emir Sabah Al-Sabah was unconstitutional.[2] In response, opposition MPs resigned from parliament and demanded a full parliamentary system.[3]

After the dissolution of parliament, a new election was set for December 2012.

Background

Emir Sabah Al-Sabah dissolved the National Assembly of Kuwait on 7 December 2011 citing "deteriorating conditions" amid an increasingly bitter political showdown over alleged high-level corruption. Major street demonstrations, some with crowds numbering in the tens of thousands, had been occurring with greater and greater frequency, forcing the resignation of the government for the second time in less than a year.[4] A group of former government parliamentarians sued to reverse the dissolution, stating that the act was unconstitutional.[5] In response the decree to set the date for the new election was delayed. The election was eventually set for 2 February.[6]

Campaign

While operating within the Constitution of Kuwait, opposition candidates are demanding significant reforms, including a constitutional monarchy. Shiite candidate and ex-MP Hussein al-Qallaf accused the opposition of wanting to share power with the ruling family, which he said would lead Kuwait into a state of chaos.[7]

Candidates

There were 344 candidates, including 24 women, who ran in five constituencies with ten seats each.[8]

Opinion polls

According to some polls, the opposition may gain as many as 33 seats, up from the 20 seats they held before.[9]

Results

Liberal bloc won 9 seats.[10] The opposition bloc won 34 out of 50 seats in the parliament. The opposition bloc is a loose coalition of liberals, Islamists, secular nationalists, populists, tribes, and some Shiite Islamists. Sunni Islamists and tribes combined won 23 seats.

The biggest margin of victory in each constituency was led by:[11] [12] [13] [14]

  1. Faisal al-Duwaisan with 14,094 votes.
  2. Jamaan al-Harbash (or Jama'an al-Hirbish) with 8,475 votes.
  3. Faisal al-Mislem al-Otaibi with 16,383 votes.
  4. Musallam al-Barrak.
  5. Falah al-Sawwagh.

Aftermath

Following the elections, Ahmed Al-Sadoun was elected Speaker, defeating Mohammed Al-Sager.

Notes and References

  1. News: Nihal . Sharaf . Abubakar A. Ibrahim . New faces for opposition reset: Endemic disputes dull voter optimism . 2012-02-02 . 2012-02-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120306061132/http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/179186/reftab/36/t/New-faces-for-opposition-reset/Default.aspx . 6 March 2012 . live . . One hour before polls closed, 238308/400296=59.53 percent, rounds to 60 percent.
  2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18518537 Kuwait court voids election and reinstates parliament
  3. News: Kuwaiti opposition demand "full parliamentary system" . Reuters. 22 June 2012.
  4. News: Associated Press . Kuwait emir dissolves parliament citing 'deteriorating conditions' . The National . 25 May 2010 . 7 February 2012.
  5. Web site: Former MPs to challenge dissolution of Assembly . Kuwait Times . 13 December 2011 . 7 February 2012.
  6. Web site: Amiri decree setting date for elections delayed . Arab Times . UK . 7 February 2012.
  7. Web site: . Kuwait votes in polls hoping to end deadlock . English.alarabiya.net . 22 January 2012 . 7 February 2012.
  8. Web site: 7% women candidates for Kuwaiti parliament elections . WoMen Dialogue . 2 February 2012 . 7 February 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130324183752/http://www.womendialogue.org/microblog/post/7-women-candidates-kuwaiti-parliament-elections . 24 March 2013 . dead .
  9. Web site: Kuwait Election May Deepen Deadlock, Bolster Opposition . Bloomberg Business . 1 February 2012 . 7 February 2012.
  10. News: Kuwait election: Islamist-led opposition makes gains . BBC News. 3 February 2012. Liberals won nine seats, while women did not win any..
  11. News: Justice Al-Khudhair announces 1st constituency winners . 2012-02-03 . . 2012-02-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120208093932/http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2219096&language=en . 8 February 2012 . live .
  12. News: Justice Al-Mutairat announces winners of parliamentary elections of 2ndconstituency . 2012-02-03 . . 2012-02-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224152/http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2219079&language=en . 3 March 2016 . live .
  13. News: List of Winners . 2012-02-03 . . 2012-02-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120206132336/http://new.kuwaittimes.net/2012/02/03/list-of-winners/ . 6 February 2012 . dead .
  14. News: Ten candidates to represent 3rd constituency in National Assembly . 2012-02-03 . . 2012-02-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213001/http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2219102&language=en . 3 March 2016 . live .

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