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Kuwait

https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/

May 2024

Kuwait's Emir dissolves parliament and suspends part of the Constitution

On May 10, Kuwait's Emir, Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, issued a decree dissolving the National Assembly and suspending several constitutional provisions. This move follows the April 2024 elections, which followed a previous parliamentary dissolution in February. The decree consolidates legislative and executive powers in the hands of the government and the Emir, who said that this suspension, which could last up to four years, aims to facilitate a ‘comprehensive review’ of the democratic process. The suspension leaves Kuwait without a clear mechanism for reconstituting the dissolved Assembly, and expands executive authority by removing the requirement for legislative review of Emiri decrees and constitutional amendments. Kuwait's suspended constitutional provisions were unique in the Gulf region for granting substantial powers to its parliament.

Sources: Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Jazeera, Al-Arabiya, The New York Times, Constitute Project

April 2024

Kuwait elects new parliament for fourth year in a row as gridlock persists
Election flag

On 4 April, Kuwait held its fourth national election in four years, attempting to resolve its prolonged political deadlock. The snap election that took place during the month of Ramadan was called after Kuwait’s new emir Sheikh Mishal, who took office last December, dissolved the parliament on 15 February, citing ‘violation of the constitutional principles’. A total of 834,733 Kuwaitis were eligible to vote, and turnout was 62.1 per cent. The electoral result led to little change in the overall parliamentary composition as compared to prior electoral results, with opposition candidates retaining 29 of the 50 eligible seats. A total of 13 women ran for office, with experienced MP Jenan Bushehri being the only elected woman. Shia candidates won a total of eight parliamentary seats. One candidate linked to the Islamic Constitutional Movement, the branch of the Muslim Brotherhood in Kuwait, also secured a seat.

Sources: Aljazeera, Al Araby, International IDEA, Al Qabas, The New York Times

June 2023

Kuwaitis elect another opposition-led parliament, raising fears of continued deadlock

Kuwaitis voting in the country’s snap general election on 6 June elected a parliament in which opposition candidates (those not tied to Kuwait’s ruling family) hold 29 of the National Assembly’s 50 elected seats. The election was called after the Constitutional Court annulled the results of the September 2022 election in March 2023 and reinstated the previous parliament, which was in turn dissolved on 1 May 2023. The composition of the new parliament is similar to the one elected in 2022 (37 members retained their seat) and has given rise to concerns that it will mean a continuation of the deadlock between an assertive, elected parliament and the Emir-appointed government, which has paralysed the country’s politics. Only one female MP was elected, down from two in 2022. Women’s rights activists have attributed the decline to the growing influence of tribal and Islamist MPs. Voter turnout was 59.3 per cent (up from 50 per cent in 2022).

Source: The Jordan Times, American Broadcasting Company News, Al Jazeera, International IDEA 

November 2022

Execution of seven prisoners draws widespread condemnation

In the first use of the death penalty in Kuwait since 2017 (when seven people were killed), seven convicted individuals were killed by Kuwaiti authorities in a mass execution on 16 November. Only four were Kuwaiti nationals; the others were from Pakistan, Syria, and Ethiopia. All seven had been convicted of murder. The use of the death penalty has prompted international condemnation from the United Nations, European Union and Amnesty International, with the United Nations Human Rights Office spokesperson describing it as a “deeply regrettable step backwards by the Kuwaiti authorities.”

Sources: Al Jazeera, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, European External Action Service, Amnesty International

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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2023

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Representation
97/173
Rights
75/173
Rule of Law
62/173
Participation
113/173
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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
4 268 873
System of government
Constitutional Monarchy (Emirate)
Head of government
Prime Minister Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah (since 2024)
Head of government party
Independent
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
Single Non-Transferable Vote
Women in lower or single chamber
3.1%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2024
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
Not applicable
Head of state
Emir Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (since 2023)
Selection process for head of state
Hereditary or election by hereditary state rulers
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
29/01/2020
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
76.16%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
No Action
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
No Action
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
Arab Charter on Human Rights
State Party
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

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Representation neutral Rule of law
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Representation neutral Participation
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Global State of Democracy Indices

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Representation
Representation
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/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
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/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
Rule of Law
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/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
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/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

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