KUWAIT: The election committee at the interior ministry has decided to bar 14 candidates from running in the April 4 snap polls, mostly over their criminal records, with some of the candidates challenging the decision in court. The barred candidates include four former MPs and Sheikh Mishal Malik Al-Sabah, the only ruling family member who filed to run in the polls. They also include three candidates who did not complete registration procedures.

Members of the Al-Sabah ruling family are not barred by the law from contesting elections, but it has become a norm that they do not take part in election races to protect them from the ills of politics. Former MPs Marzouq Al-Hubaini, a member of the dissolved 2023 National Assembly, Marzouq Al-Khalifa and Jaber Al-Azemi said they have filed petitions challenging the decision at the administrative court.

The three former lawmakers were previously convicted by court for taking part in outlawed tribal primary elections. Khalifa even served months in prison before being pardoned from a two-year jail term. The court decided to meet on Monday to review the petition and decide if the election committee’s decisions are in line with the law or not. The court can reverse the committee’s decisions and its verdicts can be appealed before the court of appeals. The courts must issue final decisions on the cases before the election date to allow these candidates to run if they are cleared.

Former MP Ahmad Al-Azemi said he was informed by the election committee that he was barred from taking part in the election because he is not registered as a voter, which disqualifies him from running as a candidate. Azemi said he will challenge the decision. Candidate Hani Hussein was barred from the race because of his criminal record. He was previously barred from several elections on similar grounds.

Meanwhile, a large number of candidates have started campaigning for the elections, many of them opening their headquarters in tents or at home. This year’s campaign is different because of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, as campaigning takes place only at night after people break their dawn-to-dusk fast.

The snap polls were called after HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah dissolved the National Assembly on Feb 15 following remarks made by some MPs deemed offensive to HH the Amir. This will be Kuwait’s fourth parliamentary polls in as many years, reflecting a high degree of instability due to continued disputes between MPs and the government.