Popular Action Bloc Explained

Popular Action Bloc
Native Name:كتلة العمل الشعبي
Leader:Musallam Al-Barrak
Foundation:1992
Ideology:Populism[1]
Nationalism
Position:Centre-left
Country:Kuwait
Native Name Lang:ar
Headquarters:Kuwait City
Seats1 Title:National Assembly

The Popular Action Bloc (Arabic: كتلة العمل الشعبي, Hashd) is a political bloc in Kuwait headed by opposition figurehead Musallam Al-Barrak. The group focuses on populist issues like housing, salary raises, and reform.

Expulsion of Shiite MPs

On 19 February 2008, the Popular Action Bloc expelled Shiite MPs Ahmed Lari and Adnan Zahid Abdulsamad for taking part in a ceremony eulogizing Hezbollah's slain top commander, Imad Mughniyah. The ceremony's description of the fugitive Lebanese militant – killed in a 12 February car bombing in Syria – as a hero sparked public outrage in a country that holds him responsible for hijacking a Kuwait Airways flight and killing two of its Kuwaiti passengers 20 years ago. The two lawmakers were only expelled from their bloc and remained in the legislature. After the expulsions of the two, the seven member bloc was down to five members.[2]

Election results

National Assembly

National Assembly!Election!Party leader!Seats!+/–
1999Ahmed Al-SadounNew
2003 5
2006 4
2008 0
2009 4
2012 (Feb) 6
2022Musallam Al-Barrak 11
2023 1
2024 1

Notes and References

  1. News: Factbox: Kuwait's political groups . 17 May 2020 . Reuters . 25 July 2013.
  2. Web site: Kuwait. International Herald Tribune. 29 March 2009. 19 March 2012.