Kuwait Elections Make Significant Changes

Kuwait consists of five constituencies, each with ten representatives. The number of eligible voters is about 796,000
Kuwait consists of five constituencies, each with ten representatives. The number of eligible voters is about 796,000
TT

Kuwait Elections Make Significant Changes

Kuwait consists of five constituencies, each with ten representatives. The number of eligible voters is about 796,000
Kuwait consists of five constituencies, each with ten representatives. The number of eligible voters is about 796,000

The unofficial results of Kuwait’s parliamentary elections, which were announced in the early hours of Friday, showed that the Change movement had swept the National Assembly, by winning more than half of the 50 parliamentary seats.

The voter turnout reached around 50 percent across the country, while the fifth electoral constituency saw a higher turnout.

Two women won in Friday’s elections, namely, Alia al-Khaled (second district) and former Minister Jenan Boushehri (third district).

There was high optimism following a speech by the Kuwaiti crown prince, who called for change and pledged to prevent the government from interfering with the voting process or choosing a speaker for the National Assembly.

This comes after nearly two years of conflict between the previous parliament and successive governments.

The government has adopted a set of measures to prevent vote buying and limit the influence of tribes, by fighting by-elections, as well as registering voters based on the civil ID.

Deputies representing the Islamic Constitutional Movement - Hadas (Muslim Brotherhood) succeeded in reaching the assembly. Those included: Osama Issa Al-Shaheen (first constituency), Hamad Muhammad Al-Matar (second district), and Abdulaziz Al-Saqabi (third constituency).

The Salafist movement achieved a remarkable presence with the return of MP Muhammad Hayef to the Council after his loss in the previous session, along with the victory of Adel Al-Damkhi, Fahd Al-Masoud and Hamad Al-Obeid.

The entire Bloc of Five, consisting of Hassan Gohar, Abdullah Al-Mudhaf, Badr Al-Mulla, Muhalhal Al-Mudhaf, and Muhannad Al-Sayer, also won with a high number of votes in their constituencies.

About nine Shiite deputies, distributed in various electoral districts and political blocs, won in the elections, including two independents, Osama Al-Zayd and Jenan Boushehri.

Former National Assembly Speaker Ahmed Al-Saadoun achieved a landslide victory, obtaining more than 12,200 votes in the third constituency - the highest percentage in the country.

Al-Saadoun, 87, is a veteran parliamentarian who has been a member of the National Assembly since 1975. He has won all the elections organized in Kuwait since that year.

Kuwait consists of five constituencies, each with ten representatives. The number of eligible voters is about 796,000.



Saudi Minister of Interior, King of Jordan Discuss Security Cooperation

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz and Jordan’s King Abdullah II meet in Amman. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz and Jordan’s King Abdullah II meet in Amman. (SPA)
TT

Saudi Minister of Interior, King of Jordan Discuss Security Cooperation

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz and Jordan’s King Abdullah II meet in Amman. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz and Jordan’s King Abdullah II meet in Amman. (SPA)

Upon the directive of the Saudi leadership, Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz held talks on Wednesday with Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Amman.

The meeting, also attended by Jordan's Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II, reviewed bilateral relations and ongoing security cooperation between their countries.

The meeting was attended by Saudi Assistant Minister of Interior Dr. Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al-Falih, Saudi Ambassador to Jordan Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairi, Jordan’s Minister of Interior Mazen Abdullah Hilal Al-Faraya and Director of the King's Office Alaa Batayneh.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud earlier held official talks with Al-Faraya aimed at boosting security cooperation between their countries.

Al-Faraya emphasized the deep-rooted and strategic ties between Saudi Arabia and Jordan under the leadership of King Abdullah II.

For his part, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud commended the concerted efforts of security agencies in both ministries, particularly in fortifying border security and combating drug trafficking.  

Discussions centered on strengthening existing security cooperation and exploring topics of mutual concern.