What Do the Latest Parliamentary Elections Mean for Democratic Politics in Kuwait?

On April 4, Kuwait held national elections for the fourth time in as many years. While the country’s elected National Assembly, or Parliament, has more power than most in the region, it has long been in disagreement with the government appointed by the ruling family. In the first elections since Emir Meshal al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, who assumed power in December 2023, dissolved the previous Parliament in February, opposition candidates won 29 seats in the 50-member assembly, and all but 11 members of parliament retained their seats, closely matching the outcome of 2023’s polls.  

With little change to the parliamentary makeup, will political deadlock continue? Will the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah win support for much-needed economic reforms? And how would a showdown between the National Assembly and the appointed government affect the expected appointment of a new crown prince and the preservation of democratic practice? 

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