Kuwait

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.

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05 Dec 2020

Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature

Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.

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No information available

Timing of election

Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections

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Upon normal expiry

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.

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50

Scope of elections

Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.

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Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates

Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".

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395

Number of male candidates

Number of male candidates

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362

Number of female candidates

Number of female candidates

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33

Percentage of women candidates

The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.

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8.4%

Voter turnout

Registered voters

Number of people registered to vote

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567,694

Results

About the election

Short description of the context and results of the election.

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The 2020 elections were the first to be held under the rule of the new Emir, Sheikh Nawaf al Ahmed Al Sabah. He acceded to the throne following the passing of Emir Sheikh Sabah al Ahmed Al Sabah in September 2020. The elections were held amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted election campaigning. Many candidates focused on political reform, corruption and the education system. Although a record 33 women stood for election (up from 14 in 2016), none were elected. There were 50 seats at stake, and 31 of the winning candidates were elected for the first time Twenty four seats went to candidates leaning towards the opposition, up from 16 in the previous legislature.

On 8 December, the new Emir re-appointed Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid Al Sabah as Prime Minister. On 14 December, a new 16-member Cabinet was sworn in (see note). On 15 December, the 65-member National Assembly re-elected Mr. Marzouq al Ghanim as its Speaker.

Note:

While the number of Cabinet ministers may not exceed one third (currently 16) of the number of elected members of the National Assembly, at least one Cabinet minister must be a member of the Assembly. And although Cabinet ministers sit as ex officio members of the Assembly,* it is not possible to serve simultaneously in the Cabinet and as an elected MP. Therefore the number of elected MPs decreases by the same number of MPs appointed to the Cabinet.

The 16-member Cabinet formed in December 2020 included one elected member. The National Assembly thus comprised 49 directly elected members and 16 Cabinet members, including one woman. Therefore, the Assembly had a total of 65 members.

A new Cabinet sworn in in March 2021 also comprised 16 Cabinet members including one elected member and one woman. The National Assembly therefore comprised a total of 65 members including one woman.

A new 16-member Cabinet formed in December 2021 included four elected members and one woman. The total number of members in the National Assembly has thus decreased from 65 to 62 members (including one woman): 46 directly elected members and 16 Cabinet members.

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* Cabinet ministers sitting as ex officio National Assembly members can vote at the Assembly, except in votes of confidence.

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.

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No

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected

50

Number of women elected

0

Percentage of women elected

The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected by the number of seats filled.

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0.0%

Women Directly Elected

0

Women in other categories

For example, ex-officio members of parliament, such as Cabinet members, members of the royal family, Attorney General, Speaker if appointed from outside parliament

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1

Other notes on the elections

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, as at 23 March 2023, the reinstated National Assembly comprised only 50 members, all directly elected.

The name of the Speaker as well as the statistics on the number of women were updated in March 2023. They are reflected in the monthly ranking of women in national parliaments as of 1 April 2023.

Sources

National Assembly (17.12.2020, 24.01.2021, 23.01.2022, 22.03.2023)

Permanent Mission of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations in Geneva (16.12.2020)

BBC

https://gulfnews.com/

https://www.aljazeera.com/

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.

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64

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.

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1

Percentage of women after the election

The percentage is calculated by dividing the total number of women in this parliament/chamber by the current number of members.

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1.5%

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.

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21

Percentage of first-term parliamentarians

The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of first-term parliamentarians by the number of seats at stake in the election.

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32.3%

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.

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15 Dec 2020

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature

Marzouq Ali M. Al-Ghanim (Male)
Date of birth: 1968

Date of election

The date of the election of the Speaker may be different from the date of the first session of the new legislature.

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15 Dec 2020