kuwait aps

8/13/2019 Kuwait APS

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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms Kuwaitwww.carnegieendowment.org/arabpoliticalsystemswww.fride.org/eng/Publications/Publication.aspx?Item=787

KUWAIT

UPDATES AND FORTHCOMING EVENTS ......................................................................................3

UPDATES AND FORTHCOMING EVENTS ......................................................................................3

!"#$I%&'()"*................................................................................................................................+,-I,($I%&'()"*.............................................................................................................................0#1I"I('2...............................................................................................................................................7,3"(,-3%')4)$.............................................................................................................................8

RIGHTS ...................................................................................................................................................10

RIGHTS ...................................................................................................................................................10

P'3)(,,I&'$I.............................................................................................................................56,-I,($I3)'-#,($I)-$*!'"I3'I-*$..........................................................................56'")$-3%')4)$I)I$I($I%("$I)-'I-*$.....................................................................5

POLITICAL FORCES............................................................................................................................15

POLITICAL FORCES............................................................................................................................15

P3,I$I"(,P('$I...............................................................................................................................5"I%I,3"I$2.......................................................................................................................................59

ELECTION RESULTS...........................................................................................................................18

ELECTION RESULTS...........................................................................................................................18

CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION..........................................................................................................19

CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION..........................................................................................................19

CORRUPTION........................................................................................................................................20

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace:1779 Massachusetts Ave. NWWashington .C. !""#$%!1"#www.carnegieendowment.org

&undaci'n (ara las )elaciones Internacionales * eli+logo E,terior-C &eli(e I/- 9 % 10 dcha. !"12 Madrid.www.fride.org

At A Glance

Population: 0uly ;669 est. ;:+58:


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Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms Kuwait

CORRUPTION........................................................................................................................................20

RATIFICATION OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS.............................................................21

RATIFICATION OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS.............................................................21

Carnegie Endowment for International Peacewww.carnegieendowment.org

&undaci'n (ara las )elaciones Internacionales * eli+logo E,teriorwww.fride.org

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http://www.carnegieendowment.org/http://www.fride.org/http://www.carnegieendowment.org/http://www.fride.org/


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Updates and Forthcoming Events

KuwaitEs Popular (ction Parliamentary &loc expelled on ebruary 5


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)o law may be promulgated unless it Das been passed by tDe )ational(ssembly and sanctioned by tDe emir. 1ecrees issued by tDe emir are referredto tDe )ational (ssembly witDin tDe fifteen days following tDeir issue if tDe(ssembly is in session. If tDe (ssembly does not confirm tDem: tDeyretrospectiBely cease to DaBe tDe force of law.

> "an Luestion and witDdraw confidence from ministers and tDe cabinet.itDdrawal of confidence from a minister taCes place by a maority Bote of tDemembers of tDe (ssembly excluding ministers. $De Luestion of confidence intDe prime minister may not be raised before tDe )ational (ssembly but if tDe

)ational (ssembly decides tDat it cannot worC witD tDe prime minister: tDematter is submitted to tDe emir. $De emir may eitDer remoBe tDe prime ministerfrom office and appoint a new cabinet or dissolBe tDe )ational (ssembly.

> $De )ational (ssembly elects a speaCer and a deputy speaCer from among itsmembers. $De speaCer Das tDe power to conBene sessionsN establisD and modify

tDe agendaN organie tDe debates and set speaCing timesN examine tDeadmissibility of bills and amendmentsN and bring items outside tDe agenda totDe floor. *e draws up tDe budget of tDe (ssembly and submits it to tDe &ureauof tDe )ational (ssembly. *e is also consulted by tDe Dead of state prior to tDeappointment of tDe prime minister.

> $De goBernment draws up an annual draft budget comprising tDe reBenue andexpenditure of tDe state: and submits it to tDe )ational (ssembly for discussionand approBal: at least two montDs before tDe end of tDe fiscal year article 5 Personal status cases are not assigned to a separate sDaria udiciaryN instead:sections of tDe ciBil courts are designated to Dear personal status cases. or4uslims: tDe courts rule on tDe basis of codified unni law or Dii lawdepending on tDe litigants. )on>4uslims are goBerned by tDeir own laws.

> 'ulings are issued by a panel of tDree udges except in cases in wDicD tDe

law proBides for a single udge ruling.

C-)r#"- Ae$&

> it in panels of tDree udges.> erBe as intermediate and final courts of appeal for cases tDat cannot be

appealed to tDe court of cassation.

C-)r# - C$""$#i-!

> erBes as tDe final court of appeal.

> Is diBided into "ommercial: "iBil and "riminal &oards.> $De "ourts udgments are not legally binding on tDe lower courts but are

normally respected.> 'ulings are issued by a panel of fiBe udges.

Se,i$& C-)r#"/

S#$#e Se,)ri# C-)r#

> (bolisDed in 5 $De udgment of tDe "onstitutional "ourt is binding on all lower courts.

Local Government

$De local goBernment consists ofM

> 9 goBernorates> 5 M)!i,i$& C-)!,i&

$De goBernorates exist largely as administratiBe units for tDe central goBernment.

$De goBernor is appointed by means of a decree for a period of four years wDicDcan be extended according to tDe Prime 4inisterEs decision. $De goBernor isconsidered a representatiBe of tDe executiBe autDority. *e contributes to

superBising tDe execution of tDe states public policy.



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$Dere is only one municipality in Kuwait but witD many serBice brancDes in

seBeral areas. $De 4unicipal "ouncil was establisDed in 5


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P-&i#i,$& P$r# L$"

> Political parties are illegal. 1e facto: formal political groupings form to supportcandidates for tDe )ational (ssembly: and tDe candidates are usually organied

along ideological lines

> $De legal status of tDese political groupings is yet to be determined. $Deconstitution does not pronounce on tDeir legal position. (ltDougD it does notexplicitly approBe tDe rigDt to form political parties: article + giBesorganiations tDe FrigDt to address tDe autDoritiesJ and some taCe it as a proofof tDe legitimacy of forming political parties. $De uncertain legal status oftDese political groups limits tDeir effectiBe functioning.

Re-rm" U!+er Di",)""i-!

> ,egaliing parties would reLuire a constitutional amendment: wDicD needs botDa two>tDirds maority support in parliament and tDe endorsement of tDe emir.In ;66+ a senior minister said tDat political parties would be allowed in tDecountry at Fone stage.J 3n 0anuary ;4atairi: said tDat tDe party was establisDed to promote

pluralism: transfer power tDrougD peaceful means: and accomplisD tDe tasC ofapplying tDe proBisions of Islamic ,aw Daria@. $De Kuwaiti goBernmentrefused to license tDe new party and called in its founders for interrogationlater releasing tDem@.

> 4Ps from tDe liberal )ational (ction &loc proposed a draft political partieslaw on 1ecember 8: ;667. Political parties are illegal in Kuwait: altDougD

political groups act as de facto parties. $De Kuwaiti constitution states tDatpolitical parties sDould be allowed at some point in tDe deBelopment ofparliamentary democracy. "licC erefor a summary of tDe draft law in (rabic.

E&e,#-r$& L$

> Kuwaits cabinet approBed a maor electoral reform in 0uly ;669 tDatreduced tDe number of electoral districts from twenty>fiBe to fiBe. Proponentsof tDe amendment Dad long argued tDat tDe larger number of constituenciesallowed for Bote>buying and tDat redistricting would reduce electoral corruptionand maCe constituencies more representatiBe. #nder tDe new law: eacD of tDefiBe districts will elect ten parliamentarians.

> lection ,aw number of tDe year 5


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> #ntil recently Boting was restricted to males aboBe tDe age of ;5 wDo resided inKuwait before 5 )eitDer udges nor members of tDe uniformed serBices i.e. police and militarypersonnel@ Bote.

> "andidates for tDe )ational (ssembly must nominate tDemselBes and runformally as independents.

L$ -! A""-,i$#i-!"

> ,aw ;+: issued in 5


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> $De "ouncil of 4inisters retains tDe autDority to suspend newspapers.

> $De -eneral 3rganiation of Printing and PublisDing controls tDe printing:publisDing: and distribution of informational materials.

> In ;66 tDe 4inistry of Information issued new regulations tDat reLuire InternetcafR owners to collect tDe names and ciBil identification numbers of customers.

> (ccording to tDe annualorldwide Press reedom Indexby 'eporters witDout&orders: Kuwait ranCs 9 of 59< countries. $De index runs from 5 most pressfreedom@ to 59< least press freedom@.

Re-rm" U!+er Di",)""i-!

> $De Prime 4inister Das recently stated tDat tDe goBernment supports proposals

to grant new licenses for daily newspapers but tDat tDe process Das to beregulated. 3ne of tDese regulations allows licenses to be issued only to publicsDareDolding companies and not to indiBiduals.

Per"-!$& S#$#)" L$

> $De Kuwaiti constitution proDibits gender discrimination.> omen still face some degree of legal ineLuality: largely in relation to personal

status law. omens testimony is giBen less Balue in court proceedings. $DefatDer determines a cDilds nationality. omen also face discrimination indiBorce and inDeritance decisions: but tDese rules Bary in accordance witD Diiand unni doctrine.

> $De law forbids marriage between 4uslim women and non>4uslim men.

!ecent Government Initiatives A##ecting !ights

> 3n 4ay 5: ;669 KuwaitEs "onstitutional "ourt reBoCed 5 clauses of tDePublic -atDerings ,aw )o. 9 of 5


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proposed DaBing one goBernmental or independent body to sponsor allexpatriate worCers and eliminate priBate sponsorsDip.

> In 4ay ;66 Kuwaiti parliament members submitted a draft law to combatreligious extremism and Biolence in tDe context of tDe Biolence tDat tooC place

in tDe country at tDe beginning of tDe year. $De draft law bans tDe issuing ofreligious fatwas by indiBiduals and calls for tDe setting up of a supreme councilfor fatwas and religion to be entrusted witD issuing fatwas related tocontemporary issues. It also bans declaring any indiBidual or group as infidelsand proposes DeaBy ail terms for tDose carrying arms witD tDe aim of usingtDese against security forces or otDer people.



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"olitical Forces

"olitical parties

Political parties are formally banned: but de facto political groupings usually form

along ideological lines. "andidates officially run as independents.

Political -roupingsM

> Islamic "onstitutional 4oBement I"4@> Is a political affiliate of tDe 4uslim &rotDerDood moBement.> Is a unni Islamist moBement.> "alls for tDe implementation of Daria law.

> Islamic Popular -rouping> unni Islamist grouping.

> #mma Party *ib al>#mma@M> stablisDed in ;66.> Is tDe only political group tDat calls itself a party.> unni Islamist salafi moBement.> Its founders were cDarged witD plotting to oBertDrow tDe goBernment.

> Islamic )ational (lliance M

> 4ain faction for DiEa 4uslims.

> Kuwait 1emocratic orum> Is a group of (rab nationalists and pan (rabists: many of tDem deputies in

recent parliaments: wDo pursue a secularist agenda and DaBe often beencritical of cabinet ministers.

> )ational 1emocratic (lliance> ecular progressiBes witD liberal tendencies.

> 0ustice and 1eBelopment 4oBement

> )ational 1emocratic orum

> $ribal "onfederations



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$ivil societ

$De ciBil society sector is small and composed of public interest associations: trade

unions: and informal groups sucD as cooperatiBe societies.

$Dere are + licensed official )on>goBernmental organiations )-3s@. $De

goBernment uses its power to license as a means of political control. $Dere areDundreds of unlicensed and unofficial )-3s. $Dese do not receiBe goBernmentsubsidies and do not DaBe legal status.

$De goBernment giBes partial financial support to licensed )-3s and Das tDe rigDt

to dissolBe tDem at any time.

$De first official Duman rigDts non>goBernmental organiation was establisDed in;66+ wDen tDe 4inistry of ocial (ffairs and ,abour granted a license to tDe

Kuwait *uman 'igDts ociety: some 56 years after it was formed.

"ooperatiBe societies informally perform ciBic as well as economic tasCs. $Dey

purcDase foodstuffs and DouseDold goods and distribute tDem tDrougD retail outlets.$De cooperatiBes control more tDan 86Q of tDe retail food marCet. acD Kuwaitiresident oBer 58 years of age is eligible to subscribe to tDe neigDborDoodscooperatiBe societies. ubscribers are entitled to a sDare of tDe cooperatiBesocietys annual profit: and all subscribers: including women: DaBe tDe rigDt toBote. $o serBe on tDe board of a cooperatiBe is one way of deBeloping a support

base in a particular neigDborDood and is a common step toward launcDing a

campaign for election to tDe )ational (ssembly. $De 4inistry of ocial (ffairs Dasconsiderable superBisory powers oBer tDese societies actiBities.

$Dere are numerous informal meetings or 1iwaniyas in Domes. $Deir number Das

increased in recent years: and tDey play an important role in tDe political process.

orCers DaBe tDe rigDt to oin unions: but tDe goBernment Das restricted tDis rigDt

by allowing only one union per occupational trade. orCers DaBe tDe rigDt toorganie and bargain collectiBely: but tDis is Bery rare in practice. $rade unionscannot be dissolBed witDout a court ruling.

orCers #nions are treated as para>statal organiations: wDicD receiBegoBernment subsidies as mucD as citiens cannot BotewitDin unions or be elected.

$rade unionsM ,ess tDan +Q of tDe worCforce was part of a union in ;66.

-Kuwait $rade #nion ederation



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- &anC orCers #nion

- Kuwait (irways orCers #nion

- Kuwait 3il "ompany orCers #nion

- Kuwait Ports (utDority orCers #nion

- -eneral "onfederation of Kuwaiti orCers

yndicates exist witDin Barious ministriesM

- yndicate of tDe orCers in 4inistry of *ealtD

- yndicate of tDe orCers in tDe 4inistry of ducation and *igDer ducation

- yndicate of tDe orCers in 4unicipality

- yndicate of tDe orCers in tDe 4inistry of Public orCs



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Election !esults

'esults of elections for tDe )ational (ssembly on 0une ;goBernment@M 59 seats

- Popular &locM < seats

- )ational (ction bloc liberal@M 8 seats

- %oter turnoutM 9Q.

- "licC erefor detailed results.

- or tDe first time in Kuwaits Distory women were allowed to Bote and run inelections: but none of tDe ;8 women among a total of ;+< candidates won aseat. omen comprise 7Q of Kuwaits +:666 Boters.

- ( parliamentary committee establisDed in 0uly ;669 to inBestigate electoralBiolations declared tDat it Das eBidence of goBernment interference in tDe 0une

parliamentary elections.

'esults of municipal elections Deld on 0une 5: ;66M

-+ candidates ran for ten seats in ten different constituencies. $ribal candidateswon six seats: businessmen won two and Dia and unni Islamist candidateswon one eacD. 3f tDe 56 members: tDree retained tDeir seats of 5


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$onstitutional !evision

$De emir or one>tDird of tDe )ational (ssembly DaBe tDe rigDt to propose reBising

proBisions in tDe "onstitution by amending: deleting or adding new ones. If tDeemir and tDe maority of tDe )ational (ssembly approBe tDe principle of reBisionand its subect matter: tDe (ssembly debates tDe bill article by article. (pproBal bya two>tDirds maority is reLuired for tDe bill to be passed.

$De proBisions relating to tDe emiri system in Kuwait cannot be amended. $De

proBisions relating to tDe principles of liberty and eLuality cannot be amendedexcept to increase tDeir guarantees.

(rticle 57 of tDe "onstitution states tDat tDe law specifies tDe udicial body tDe

"onstitutional "ourt@ competent to decide disputes relating to tDe constitutionalityof laws and regulations. $De -oBernment and tDe interested parties can cDallenge

tDe constitutionality of laws and regulations before tDe "onstitutional "ourt. If tDe"onstitutional "ourt body decides tDat a law or a regulation is unconstitutional: itis considered null and Boid.



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$orruption

Kuwait Das no special commissions or institutions cDarged witD eliminating

corruption.

(ltDougD anti>corruption initiatiBes are taCen up by tDe legislature: tDeir actions are

not integrated into a compreDensiBe national strategy.

( new agency of ciBil serBice and performance eBaluation Das been establisDed.

In 0anuary ;66: tDe *igDer "ommittee for conomic 1eBelopment and 'eform

undertooC a surBeyin conunction witD tDe orld &anC tDat probed publicattitudes about goBernment decision>maCing: including issues of goBernance:corruption: priBatiation and public sector reform.

Parliaments ,egal and ,egislatiBe "ommittee unanimously approBed a draft law

in 0anuary ;669 reLuiring top goBernment officials and 4Ps to disclose tDeirwealtD before assuming office and after leaBing tDeir posts as part of a measure tocombat corruption.

$ransparency Internationals "orruption Perception Index ;667ranCs Kuwait 96tDout of 586 countries.



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