KUWAIT: Kuwaitis have voted back a majority of members of the dissolved parliament in crucial snap polls, the fourth in Kuwait during the past 40 months. HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent on Friday a cable of congratulations to the winners of the National Assembly elections. HH the Amir expressed sincere sentiments to all MPs for the trust placed in them by citizens in this election, wishing them success in their duties and contributions to the country’s progress, development and prosperity. HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah sent a similar cable to the winners.

HH the Amir also sent cables of thanks to ministers and heads of state agencies who contributed to success and orderliness of the 2024 Assembly elections. He expressed appreciation of the great efforts made by the ministries and state departments in the preparation and organization of the elections in an orderly way. He also expressed gratitude to the members of the judicial commission who supervised the electoral process, appreciating their efforts to ensure the credibility and transparency of the elections. HH the Amir also thanked the voters for taking part effectively in the elections and exercising their constitutional right to vote, which reflected the civilized democratic aspect of the dear homeland.

Of the 46 members who contested the polls, 39 were re-elected, including veteran former speakers Marzouq Al-Ghanem and Ahmad Al-Saadoun. Three members did not run and one member was barred by the elections committee. Of the 11 other candidates who won seats, seven are new faces and the remaining four are former MPs from previous assemblies. They include top pro-government MPs Obaid Al-Wasmi and Ahmad Al-Fadhl, and outspoken opposition figure Bader Al-Dahoum, in addition to veteran MP Saleh Ashour. New faces include opposition members Anwar Al-Fiker, Mohammad Al-Dossari and Mohammad Al-Dahoum, brother of Bader Al-Dahoum. Jenan Bushehri was the only woman candidate who managed to win a seat. She returns to the parliament for a third consecutive term.

The “reformist majority” or opposition, which consisted of 48 MPs in the previous 50-member Assembly, will shrink slightly, but is expected to comprise around 45 MPs, barring unexpected problems. The information ministry said turnout was 62.1 percent, described by many candidates as a very good percentage considering the elections were held during the last 10 days of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, normally devoted to worship.

MP Muhalhal Al-Mudhaf, who was re-elected from the third constituency, said the turnout was relatively high because elections were held in Ramadan. MP Abdulkarim Al-Kandari, whose remarks in the Assembly were cited by the government as offensive to HH the Amir and triggered the decision to dissolve the Assembly, came in first place in the third constituency, way ahead of the MP in second place.

Ghanem, the speaker between 2013 to 2022, called for opening a new page and to comply with the address of HH the Amir. “I think that a new page should be opened,” Ghanem told his supporters celebrating his convincing victory and retaining first place in his constituency. Ghanem said that it was premature to announce whether he will run for the speaker’s post. He said it is the right of any MP to run for the speaker and that he will study the matter in due time.

MP Fahad Al-Azmi, however, said he has decided to contest the post of the speaker. If he wins, it will be the first time a tribal MP takes the top position in the Assembly. He insisted he will not withdraw. Azmi was re-elected in top place in the fifth constituency with a record-breaking tally exceeding 16,000.

Islamist MP Abdulaziz Al-Saqaabi, who was re-elected from the third district, said “the success of a reformist majority to reach the Assembly is a message that the Kuwaiti people will not abandon their constitutional rights”. “The people are hungry for achievements and they will not accept the return to square one,” said Saqaabi, the only member of the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM), the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, to win. Two other ICM candidates lost, including veteran former MP Hamad Al-Matar. Bedouin tribes together won half of the Assembly’s seats, two up from the previous house.

The new National Assembly must hold its first session within two weeks, in accordance with the constitution. The first task will be electing a new speaker. The previous Assembly had agreed on a legislative roadmap with the previous government and several MPs said they want to revive that roadmap and approve key bills. The most immediate laws are one calling to increase wages of Kuwaitis and another proposing to reform the elections law. Both could become flashpoints with the new government.