Kuwait

National Assembly

Political system Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
Monarchy
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Structure of parliament Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
Unicameral
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IPU membership Current membership status
Yes
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Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
06.06.2023
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
01.05.2023
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Early election
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
30.06.2027
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
50
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

There is no party system, or all candidates stood as independents.

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
Kuwait held yet another snap election in June 2023, only nine months after the previous polls in September 2022 (see note). As was the case in 2022, opposition members won the majority of the 50 directly elected seats. One woman was elected. 

Since 2021, Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah has been fulfilling most of the duties of the ruling Emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. On 18 June 2023, the Crown Prince re-appointed the Emir’s son, Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, as the Prime Minister. On 20 June, the newly elected National Assembly held its first session and elected as its Speaker Mr. Ahmad Al-Saadoun who had most recently served as the Speaker for the 2022 legislature. 

Note:
In January 2023, Prime Minister Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah resigned following tensions between Cabinet members and some MPs in the National Assembly elected in 2022. On 19 March 2023, the Constitutional Court invalidated the entire process of the snap elections held in September 2022. It also invalidated the dissolution of the previous National Assembly elected in 2020 and reinstated it. Cabinet members normally sit as ex-officio members in the National Assembly. However, the Cabinet resigned in January 2023. Consequently, the reinstated National Assembly comprised only 50 members, all directly elected. On 1 May 2023, the Crown Prince dissolved the reinstated 2020 legislature in view of another snap election, which was subsequently set for 6 June.

There is no data on political parties, for example because there is no party system or candidates stood as independents.

Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
No
Note on the alternation of power
Monarchy
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
49
Number of women elected
1
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
2%
Note on the Distribution of seats according to sex
The National Assembly includes two women out of 65 members as follows:
- One woman directly elected
- One woman minister from within the 16-member Cabinet (which includes one male member directly elected to the National Assembly in 2023).
Sources
National Assembly (08.06.2023, 06.07.2023)
BBC Monitoring
https://www.reuters.com
https://www.aljazeera.com
https://www.kuwaittimes.com
https://apnews.com
Women Directly Elected
1
Women Other
1

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
2
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
63
First-term parliamentarians The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
10
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
20.06.2023
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Ahmad Al-Saadoun (Male)
Date of election
20.06.2023