THOUSANDS of voters on Tuesday participated in the latest snap election in Kuwait.
The recurring political deadlock resulted in the Gulf state getting trapped in a cycle of seemingly endless parliamentary dissolutions, recurring snap elections, as well as hampering fiscal reforms.
Both sides have been bickering over several parliamentary draft bills including one controversial measure that would require government to buy billions of dinars of bank loans owed by Kuwaiti citizens.
The government argued the move would be too expensive, costing almost $46 billion in public funds, but the elected lawmakers insisted it would only cost less than $6.5 billion.
The last election was held in September 2022 after the government dissolved the 2020 parliament in August of the same year. In March 2023, Kuwait’s Constitutional Court annulled the September 2022 election and restored the previous 2020 assembly.
On the 1st of May, the crown prince once again dissolved the reinstated 2020 assembly resulting in a snap election scheduled on the 6th of June.
Under Kuwait’s constitution, an election for a new parliament must be held within two months from the time it was dissolved.
Compared to other monarchies in the Gulf region, Kuwait’s 65-seat National Assembly has more influence and can challenge the executive branch at times.
A total of 207 candidates will be competing for 50 seats in the parliament, with the remaining 15 to be appointed by the emir.
According to the latest data, the current population in Kuwait is more than 4.4 million, with expatriates accounting for nearly 70 percent.
Of this number, 795,911 people are eligible to vote in the 2023 election cycle.
