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Kuwaiti political gridlock (2020–)
Date
15 December 2020 —
Location
Kuwait
Cause
Rivalry for succession within the ruling Al Sabah dynasty.[1][2]
Opposition politicians re-entering the electoral process in 2020, after having allegedly boycotted the elections in 2012 and 2013.
Demands for populist measures like wage and subsidy increases from elected MPs, set against a cabinet aiming for austerity and structural reforms.[3][4]
The Kuwaiti political gridlock, ongoing since 2020, is marked by a persistent standoff between the appointed cabinet and the elected parliament in Kuwait. This crisis is set against a backdrop of successive internal succession crises within the ruling Al Sabah family, beginning with the death of Emir Sabah Al Ahmad in 2020. Leadership transitioned to his half-brother Nawaf, who died in 2023, subsequently elevating Mishal Al Sabah to the role of emir. Mishal, the last surviving member of his generation and son of Ahmad Al Jaber Al-Sabah, has yet to appoint a successor.[5]
Under the constitution, the emir appoints the prime minister, with members of the Al Sabah family traditionally holding key cabinet portfolios, including the prime ministership. Additionally, the emir appoints the crown prince, who must receive approval from at least 50% of the elected parliamentarians. This entrenched practice has fueled the political stalemate, as next-generation succession candidates use populist strategies to gain parliamentary support for their bids for the emirate. These tactics frequently involve the selective prosecution of rivals on corruption charges, granting pardons for supporters, and sweeping personnel changes across government levels to forge alliances within both the ruling family and the parliament.[5][6][2][4]
This ongoing crisis has significantly impacted Kuwait’s political landscape, resulting in the appointment of four different prime ministers, the dissolution of parliament three times, the annulment of one parliamentary session, and the formation of ten different cabinets over three years.[7][4][3]
^Alwuhaib, Mohammed (30 November 2012). "Kuwait: The Crisis and its Future". Arab Reform Bulletin. 63: 2.
^ abUlrichsen, Kristian; Henderson, Simon (4 October 2019). "Kuwait: A Changing System Under Stress". The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
^ abMacDonald, Fiona. "Kuwait Holds Third Election in Three Years Amid Political Deadlock".
^ abcDiwan, Kristin Smith (3 January 2024). "Kuwait's New Emir: A Frank Speech Signals a Sharp Change in Direction".
^ abHagagy, Ahmed (16 December 2023). "Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf dies, Sheikh Meshal named as successor". Reuters. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
^Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Political deadlock seen persisting after first Kuwait poll under new emir". Reuters.
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