Polls open as Kuwaitis vote for a new National Assembly

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen Net
29 Sep 2022 13:20

After the National Assembly dissolved in June, Kuwaitis head to the polls to vote for a new one.

Kuwaitis vote for a new National Assembly

Kuwaitis head to the polls on Thursday to cast their votes in the second legislative elections in less than two years.

On June 22, Kuwait's Crown Prince Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah announced, on behalf of the country's Emir Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the dissolution of the National Assembly based on the Kuwaiti Constitution, calling for general elections.

A total number of 313 candidates, including 27 women, are running for the 50-member parliament, known as the National Assembly. Successful candidates will join parliament for the next four years.

It is also worth noting that bout 796,000 Kuwaitis are entitled to vote at polling stations. The elections will last 12 hours and the result are expected to follow later on Friday, September 30.

It is noteworthy that the political standoff has delayed the approval of a state budget for the fiscal year 2022/2023, which has to be voted on before November, and other economic reforms.

Kuwait was the first country in the Gulf region to establish an elected parliament in 1963.