Kuwait to Hold Elections Without the Commission

A Kuwaiti woman casts her vote in previous elections for the National Assembly (KUNA)
A Kuwaiti woman casts her vote in previous elections for the National Assembly (KUNA)
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Kuwait to Hold Elections Without the Commission

A Kuwaiti woman casts her vote in previous elections for the National Assembly (KUNA)
A Kuwaiti woman casts her vote in previous elections for the National Assembly (KUNA)

Kuwait issued a decree on Wednesday temporarily suspending the National Assembly’s election law until Oct. 1.

The government has not set a date for the elections, but they are expected to be held on April 13, immediately after the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

The decree published in the Official Gazette (Kuwait al-Youm) regarding the 2024 National Assembly elections stipulated that a voter who has been convicted by final judgment of a felony, a crime against honor or trust, or a crime of insulting the divine entity, the prophets, or the Emir, shall be prohibited from voting unless rehabilitated.

The memorandum explained that the decree is aligned with the procedural rules of previous National Assembly elections and maintains all the guarantees and gains approved by the temporarily suspended law, including determining the electoral domicile according to the official data specified in the national ID to avoid tampering with the electoral restrictions.

Regarding the suspension of the Elections Commission Law, the memorandum explained that it was impossible to appoint judges to lead the commission within a short time as required by the suspended law.

Judges who join the commission will be required to resign from their work in the judiciary and lose the benefits of their position under the law and the letter sent by the head of the Court of Cassation and the President of the Supreme Council of Judges to the Minister of Justice.

Kuwaiti constitutional expert Mohammed al-Faili explained that the decree addresses the impossibility of implementing the electoral law because judges refuse to be appointed to the administrative body to monitor the electoral process.

Faili further noted that given that the law could not be implemented, and according to the Constitution, elections must be held within two months, and the decree was necessary legislation in the absence of parliament, which could be inferred as a law.

He noted that after suspending the mechanism stipulated for establishing the Elections Commission, the remaining provisions were restored, and the former election management mechanism was used, where the Ministry of Interior is responsible for updating voter lists with an urgent mechanism.

Faili clarified that this decree adopted the text of the postponed Commission law but kept its old provisions in effect, and in this regard, whoever obtained rehabilitation will benefit from it.



Saudi Defense Ministry Hosts Eighth Meeting of 'Dragon Group' Chiefs of Staff 

Officials are seen at the meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Defense Ministry Hosts Eighth Meeting of 'Dragon Group' Chiefs of Staff 

Officials are seen at the meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Defense hosted the eighth meeting of the "Dragon Group" Chiefs of Staff in Riyadh., reported the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.

The meeting was attended by the chiefs of staff and representatives from Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, United Kingdom, and the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The meeting was opened by Saudi Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili and covered topics of common interest, including counter-terrorism, developments in the Palestinian territories, the need for humanitarian aid access, and regional de-escalation efforts.

The participants stressed the importance of maritime security, ensuring the safety of waterways, and strengthening anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations.