Former Deputies Lead Candidate Lineup in Kuwait National Assembly Elections

The Kuwaiti Interior Ministry’s Elections Affairs Administration began receiving applications from candidates for upcoming National Assembly elections (KUNA)
The Kuwaiti Interior Ministry’s Elections Affairs Administration began receiving applications from candidates for upcoming National Assembly elections (KUNA)
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Former Deputies Lead Candidate Lineup in Kuwait National Assembly Elections

The Kuwaiti Interior Ministry’s Elections Affairs Administration began receiving applications from candidates for upcoming National Assembly elections (KUNA)
The Kuwaiti Interior Ministry’s Elections Affairs Administration began receiving applications from candidates for upcoming National Assembly elections (KUNA)

The first day of registration for Kuwait’s National Assembly (parliament) elections saw 42 candidates, including two women, stepping forward.
The Interior Ministry’s Elections Affairs Administration began receiving applications from candidates for the 18th legislative session of parliamentary elections, marking the start of a 10-day candidacy period.
Former National Assembly Speaker Ahmed Al-Saadoun and former deputy Marzouq Al-Khalifa were among the early registrants.
On his part, Al-Saadoun highlighted the importance of upcoming reforms, while emphasizing citizen engagement and informed choices.
“We are heading towards reformist issues in the upcoming assembly unprecedented in Kuwait’s history,” said Al-Saadoun, stressing the consensus of 48 members on legislative priorities as groundbreaking.
Other candidates, such as Ahmad Larie, Omar Al-Tabtabaie, Abdul Kareem Al-Kandari, Abdul Wahab Al-Essa, Badr Aldahoum, Fahad Al-Muweizri, Ali Al-Daqbasi, Fahad Al-Burjis Al-Eid, Fares Al-Otaibi, Issa Hajji Musa, Ahmed Mohammed Bin Samim Al-Otaibi, and Saadoun Hammad, also submitted their candidacies.
Former deputy Dr. Janan Bushahri announced her candidacy on “X.”
According to the Ministry of Interior, candidates for the National Assembly must be Kuwaiti citizens by birth, meet voter qualifications, be listed on an electoral roll, be able to read and write Arabic, and be at least 30 years old on election day.
Candidates must not have prior convictions for dishonorable, untrustworthy, or blasphemous acts, unless cleared legally.
To run, candidates must pay a 50 Kuwaiti dinar deposit ($160 USD) for charity, refundable if they withdraw or receive less than one-tenth of valid votes. Proof of payment is required with the nomination application.



GCC Renews Mandate of Jasem Albudaiwi as Secretary-General

Secretary General of GCC’s Council, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
Secretary General of GCC’s Council, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
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GCC Renews Mandate of Jasem Albudaiwi as Secretary-General

Secretary General of GCC’s Council, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
Secretary General of GCC’s Council, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.

The Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Sunday renewed the appointment of Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi as its Secretary-General for another three years, starting February 1, 2026.
“The decision is in appreciation of Albudaiwi’s great efforts and effective contribution to strengthening the Council's progress, wishing him success in his duties during the coming period,” said the final statement issued during the Council’s 45th session, held in Kuwait.
Albudaiwi officially assumed the role of Secretary General on February 1, 2023, succeeding Dr. Nayef Falah M. Al Hajraf.
Before his appointment in 2023, Albudaiwi was ambassador of Kuwait to the United States.
He was born on February 22, 1968, and earned a Diploma in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Oxford in 1993. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, which he completed in 1991.
Throughout his career, he held several prominent positions, including Kuwait's Ambassador to the US from 2022 to 2023. He also served as non-resident Ambassador to Luxembourg (2017-2022), Head of Mission to the European Union (2017-2022), Head of Mission to NATO (2016-2022), Ambassador to Belgium (2016-2022), and Ambassador to South Korea (2013-2016).
Albudaiwi is the seventh Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which was established on May 25, 1981.
Kuwaiti Abdullah Bishara served as the Council’s Secretary-General from 1981 to 1993, followed by the UAE’s Fahim Al-Qasimi (1993-1996), Saudi Arabia’s Jamil Al-Hejailan (1996-2002), Qatar’s Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah (2002-2011), Bahrain’s Abdullatif Al-Zayani (2011-2020), and Kuwaiti Nayef Al-Hajraf (2020-2023).