KUWAIT: parliamentary elections Majles Al-Ummah, 2003

KUWAIT
Parliamentary Chamber: Majles Al-Ummah

ELECTIONS HELD IN 2003

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Chamber:

Majles Al-Ummah

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

6 July 2003

Purpose of elections:

Elections were held for the elective seats in Parliament on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.

Background and outcome of elections:

Kuwaitis went to the polls on 5 July 2003 to elect the members of the new Parliament amid tremendous changes taking place in the region, including the toppling of the Iraqi regime and developments in the Middle East peace process as well as reforms in certain Arab states.
The election campaign was dominated by such major topics as political reforms, imposition of the Islamic Sharia and economic issues. Some 276 candidates were competing for 50 seats in Parliament. The two main groups in the running were the liberals and the Islamists, who hold opposing views concerning the reforms and the Sharia. While the liberals stress the need to continue political reforms in the country, including extending the vote to women and the request that the royal family relinquish some of its powers, the Islamists call for political, economic and administrative change through imposition of the Islamic Sharia.
Some 136,000 Kuwaitis out of a total population of 885,000, were eligible to vote. Kuwaiti women have no right to vote or stand for election. The outgoing Parliament had blocked a tentative government bid in 1999 to grant women voting rights. On polling day, as the men voted, the women protested their exclusion from the polls.
There are no political parties in Kuwait. Government supporters won 14 of the 50 seats at stake, an increase of two. Islamists obtained 21 seats, an increase of one. Liberals and their supporters obtained just three seats, a massive drop from the 14 they had in the outgoing Parliament. The remaining 12 seats went to independent candidates, a large increase from the four they had held in the last Parliament.
On 13 July 2003, the Emir, Sheikh Jabir, appointed a new Prime minister, separating the post from the role of heir to the throne for the first time. Some days later, on 19 July 2003, the newly elected National Assembly held its first sitting and re-elected Mr. Jasem Mohammad Abdulmuhsen Al Khurafi as its Speaker.

STATISTICS

Comments:

Political parties are not permitted.

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 65

Women: 0

Percent of women: 0

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for KUWAIT <<<

Chamber:
	Majles Al-Ummah
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	6 July 2003
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for the elective seats in Parliament on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	Kuwaitis went to the polls on 5 July 2003 to elect the members of the new Parliament amid tremendous changes taking place in the region, including the toppling of the Iraqi regime and developments in the Middle East peace process as well as reforms in certain Arab states. The election campaign was dominated by such major topics as political reforms, imposition of the Islamic Sharia and economic issues. Some 276 candidates were competing for 50 seats in Parliament. The two main groups in the running were the liberals and the Islamists, who hold opposing views concerning the reforms and the Sharia. While the liberals stress the need to continue political reforms in the country, including extending the vote to women and the request that the royal family relinquish some of its powers, the Islamists call for political, economic and administrative change through imposition of the Islamic Sharia. Some 136,000 Kuwaitis out of a total population of 885,000, were eligible to vote. Kuwaiti women have no right to vote or stand for election. The outgoing Parliament had blocked a tentative government bid in 1999 to grant women voting rights. On polling day, as the men voted, the women protested their exclusion from the polls. There are no political parties in Kuwait. Government supporters won 14 of the 50 seats at stake, an increase of two. Islamists obtained 21 seats, an increase of one. Liberals and their supporters obtained just three seats, a massive drop from the 14 they had in the outgoing Parliament. The remaining 12 seats went to independent candidates, a large increase from the four they had held in the last Parliament. On 13 July 2003, the Emir, Sheikh Jabir, appointed a new Prime minister, separating the post from the role of heir to the throne for the first time. Some days later, on 19 July 2003, the newly elected National Assembly held its first sitting and re-elected Mr. Jasem Mohammad Abdulmuhsen Al Khurafi as its Speaker.

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	65
Women:	0
Percent of women:	0