Kuwait

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Kuwait

Al-Sabah Dynasty Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prime Minister Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah National Assembly Political parties Elections: 2006, 2008, 2009 Governorates (muhafazah) Districts Foreign relations Human rights Key Political Issues Impeachment Votes

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An early parliamentary election was held in Kuwait on 16 May 2009,^[1] the country's third in a three-year period.^[2] Kuwait had voted on six occasions between 1991 and 2009.^[3] The election was notable in that women were elected for the first time since Kuwait gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1961.

Contents 1 Background 2 Candidates 3 Results 4 References

[edit] Background

The Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah dissolved the National Assembly of Kuwait on 18 March 2009 over accusations of supposed abuse of democracy and threats to political stability. The government had resigned just two days before to evade questioning in parliament.^[4][5] Suggested solutions to this recurring problem (government resignation) include the formation of a government without any members of the royal family (a so-called "popular government"), thus making the possibility of parliamentary questioning a reality, or appointing the crown prince as PM, which would make parliamentary questioning sufficiently unlikely so that it would not be a problem any more.^[3]

[edit] Candidates

210 candidates attempted to win 50 seats.^[6] 16 were female.^[6]

[edit] Results

The results were announced on 17 May 2009. For the first time, Kuwait, which has no political parties, successfully elected female MPs.^[2][6] Four women will appear in parliament.^[2] Aseel al-Awadhi and Rola Dashti were victors in the third district; both received their education in the United States.^[2] Also winning were Massouma al-Mubarak and Salwa al-Jassar.^[2] Women's rights in Kuwait improved in 2005 when Kuwaiti females were allowed to vote and to run for election to parliament for the first time in the nation's history.^[2]

Reportedly, Sunni Islamists lost ground, while liberals and independents gained seats.^[7]

e • d Summary of the 16 May 2009 National Assembly of Kuwait election results

	Seats
Independents	21
Sunni Islamist	13
Liberals (Shia and Sunni)	7
Shia Islamist	6
Popular Bloc	3
Total (turnout 50 %)	50
Source: Kuwait Politics Database

[edit] References

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