Kuwaitis Start Voting in National Assembly Elections

An aerial view shows little traffic on the roads of Kuwait City, Kuwait March 16, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
An aerial view shows little traffic on the roads of Kuwait City, Kuwait March 16, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
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Kuwaitis Start Voting in National Assembly Elections

An aerial view shows little traffic on the roads of Kuwait City, Kuwait March 16, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
An aerial view shows little traffic on the roads of Kuwait City, Kuwait March 16, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee

Kuwaiti voters are casting their ballots on Tuesday to choose representatives for the National Assembly during its seventeenth legislative session.

The 2023 parliamentary elections are eagerly anticipated due to the potential to address the ongoing political crisis in Kuwait.

Over the past four years, Kuwait had established three consecutive legislative assemblies.

On Tuesday, a total of 793,646 eligible voters will choose 50 deputies out of 207 candidates, including 15 female candidates, in a voting process conducted under the single-vote electoral system.

Leading up to the electoral silence, candidates have made efforts to convey their messages to the public.

These messages varied from persuasive speeches aimed at convincing voters to strategic communications for building alliances within the National Assembly.

This year’s elections are witnessing the participation of two prominent figures.

First, former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ahmed Al-Sadoun (Third District), who is nearing the age of 90, was elected as the Speaker for the first time in 1985.

After the liberation of Kuwait and upon the return of the National Assembly, Al-Sadoun served as a member and Speaker in 1992 and 1996.

In 1999, the late businessman Jassim Al-Kharafi managed to defeat Al-Sadoun and held the position until 2012 when Al-Sadoun returned as the Speaker once again.

Al-Sadoun then declared that he would not run under the single-vote system. However, he did participate in the 2022 elections and achieved a record-breaking number of votes, surpassing 12,000.

He became the Speaker of the National Assembly until his position was invalidated by the Constitutional Court’s ruling.

The other prominent figure is Marzouq Al-Ghanim, who has served as the Speaker of the National Assembly since 2013.

He was re-elected as Speaker in 2020 and served until the dissolution of the National Assembly on December 15, 2020.

Over the course of four years, the National Assembly has been dissolved twice.

In 2022, the parliament was invalidated by a Constitutional Court ruling.

Kuwait has witnessed intense confrontations between the legislative and executive branches, resulting in the obstruction of legislation on economic reforms and contributing to a political deadlock.

Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah called for change after deciding to dissolve the National Assembly, stating that this dissolution was aimed at “rectifying the political scene and addressing the lack of consensus and conflicts.



Drug Trafficking Networks Busted in Riyadh, Hail

The Saudi Interior Ministry stressed the vigilance of security forces in confronting criminal schemes (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Interior Ministry stressed the vigilance of security forces in confronting criminal schemes (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Drug Trafficking Networks Busted in Riyadh, Hail

The Saudi Interior Ministry stressed the vigilance of security forces in confronting criminal schemes (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Interior Ministry stressed the vigilance of security forces in confronting criminal schemes (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi security forces have dismantled criminal networks operating in the Riyadh and Hail regions that were trafficking in amphetamine, methamphetamine (known locally as shabu), and medically regulated pills, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday.

The networks were uncovered based on intelligence gathered by relevant authorities within the ministry, a ministry spokesperson said in a statement. A total of 37 individuals were arrested, including 28 Saudi nationals—among them one employee from the Interior Ministry, two from the National Guard, two from the Ministry of Defense, and one from the Ministry of Health.

Also detained were two Ethiopian nationals accused of violating border security laws, five Syrian expatriates, and two Yemenis—one a resident and the other a visitor.

Authorities said all legal procedures had been completed, and the suspects were referred to the Public Prosecution for further investigation.

The Interior Ministry said the announcement underscored the vigilance of Saudi security forces in confronting criminal plots aimed at targeting the kingdom and its youth with narcotics.

It added that authorities would continue to thwart such schemes and take firm action against anyone involved, regardless of their status, to safeguard the security of Saudi Arabia, its citizens, and residents.