Voters in Kuwait were casting ballots on Tuesday for a third time in as many years, with little hope of ending a prolonged gridlock between the ruling family and assertive lawmakers after the judiciary dissolved the legislature earlier this year.
Kuwait is alone among Gulf Arab countries in having a democratically elected assembly that exerts some checks on the ruling family. But in recent years, the political system has been paralysed by infighting and unable to enact even basic reforms.“People on the ground are not very optimistic right now about change, and that’s why you see this frustration and probably a low voter turnout and low number of people running,” said Dania Thafer, executive director at the Gulf International Forum, a Washington-based think-tank.
The polls will close at 8 pm and the results are expected on Wednesday.
“We need to bridge the gap and people can talk to each other and reach a consensus for the interest of Kuwait,” said Badr Al-Turaiji, one of the thousands who braved the searing heat to cast his vote.
The last election, held a mere eight months ago, delivered a mandate for change, bringing 27 new lawmakers into the 50-member assembly, including conservative Islamists and two women.
Some had served in earlier parliaments. But in March, Kuwait’s Constitutional Court annulled the decree dissolving the previous parliament, which was elected in 2020, effectively restoring it.
A few weeks later, the ruling Al Sabah family dissolved that parliament for a second time, setting up this week’s vote.