Kuwaiti elections set for November

Kuwaiti government sources said that parliamentary elections will be held on 26 November, the Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

The sources told Anadolu that the Ministerial Council approved a draft decree which included a date for the votes. The decree is to be raised to the Kuwaiti Emir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al Sabah, for approval.

On Sunday, the emir dissolved the parliament, which consists of 50 elected MPs and 16 who are appointed.

Kuwaiti news agency KUNA reported the emir saying in a decree: “Given the circumstances in the region … and the security challenges and their different impacts and risks, that require returning to the people – the origin of authority – to choose their representatives to express their directions, ambitions and contribute to facing these challenges.”

On Saturday, Parliament Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim called for dissolving the parliament and holding early elections.

“We will face numerous internal and external challenges in the upcoming phase, which will require a new government and a return to the ballot box.”

The upcoming elections will be the sixth since 2006.