KUWAIT: At the close of registration of candidates for the April 4 snap parliamentary elections, 255 candidates including 14 women have filed their nominations to run in the polls, the fourth in as many years. Forty-seven members out of 50 of the National Assembly dissolved by HH the Amir in February are seeking re-election and have urged Kuwaiti voters to turn out in large numbers and not be frustrated because of repeated elections.
As many as 25 former MPs from previous assemblies are also in the race for seats in the house. Two former speakers are also in the fray and they appear to be leading two loose and unofficial coalitions fighting for seats in the Assembly. The number of candidates is almost the same as the 252 candidates who filed to run in the June 6, 2023 elections, but way down from the 376 hopefuls who registered to contest the September 2022 elections at the close of registration.
But only 207 candidates eventually contested the June 6 polls after 45 candidates withdrew. A number of candidates are also expected to pull out of this year’s race. Withdrawals close on March 28. The three ex-MPs who are not running are all from the first constituency. Kuwait is divided into five electoral districts with each electing 10 members to the Assembly.
Forty-seven candidates are running in the first constituency, 53 in the second, 37 in the third and as many as 68 in the fourth and 50 hopefuls in the fifth electoral district. Eight of the 14 female candidates are contesting in the third district.
A majority of candidates have focused on the need to bring back stability to Kuwait, an OPEC member that pumps more than 2.5 million barrels a day and has amassed over $800 billion of reserves being invested by the country’s sovereign wealth fund. But public services and the overall standard of living have deteriorated because of non-stop political crises between the government and MPs, resulting in the dissolution of the Assembly nine times since 2016 and three times since August 2022. In the meantime, almost 20 Cabinets were formed and four heads of state were replaced.