Parliamentary elections in Kuwait 2008
In the parliamentary elections in Kuwait on May 17, 2008, around 360,000 voters out of 3.4 million residents were eligible to vote. Of the 3.4 million inhabitants, only around one million have Kuwaiti citizenship. A total of 275 candidates applied for the 50 mandates, including 27 women. The early election had become necessary because there were repeated disputes between the government and some MPs over numerous policy areas, including a pay rise for public service employees. Emir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah dissolved the Gulf State parliament in March and scheduled new elections early. Since no political parties are allowed in the emirate , the field of applicants was confusing. In addition to six loose formations that were previously represented in Kuwait's parliament, there were many independent applicants. The voters could cast their vote in one of the 94 polling offices in the 5 constituencies. Men and women cast their votes separately. All Kuwait citizens aged 21 and over are eligible to vote, with the exception of members of the military and security forces.
Election campaign
The election campaign in the past two months has been overshadowed by numerous protests, arrests and general confusion after the state reorganized the constituencies in the hope of allowing for a more balanced parliamentary composition. Several candidates had been arrested for buying votes. There were also several arrests on suspicion of illegally conducted primaries.
Tasks and history about the Kuwaiti parliament
The Kuwaiti parliament has the task of approving the state budget and all important laws. The right to submit ministers to a hearing is used astonishingly often, and they are often forced to resign as a result. Since the first elections in 1963, the emir and his predecessors have dissolved parliament five times - in 2008, 2006, 1999, 1986 and 1976. Kuwaiti law requires new elections to take place within 60 days of dissolution, but this law has been violated several times. In 1976 it took five years to reform parliament, after 1986 it was six years. The right to stand for election and the right to vote for women were only introduced in Kuwait in 2005. In the last election in 2006, not a single candidate got enough votes to make it into parliament.
Election result
After counting almost all votes, the result is the following:
| space | Electoral alliance | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Islamic Salafist Alliance (AIS) | 10 |
| 2 | Other Islamist candidates | 11 |
| 3 | Islamic Constitutional Movement (MIC) | 3 |
| 4th | Shiite minority | 5 |
| 5 | liberal | 7th |
| 6th | Nationalists | 4th |
| 7th | Other / Independent | 10 |
| total | 50 |
According to the state television, voter turnout was estimated at more than 75 percent for men and more than 50 percent for women.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Kurier (daily newspaper) : Radical Islamists Election Winners ( Memento of the original from May 17, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. dated May 18, 2008.
