FREEDOM AGENDA: REDUCTION OF ELECTORAL DISTRICTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 004293 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KISL SOCI KU FREEDOM AGENDA SUBJECT: FREEDOM AGENDA: REDUCTION OF ELECTORAL DISTRICTS BACK ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA REF: A. KUWAIT 4190 ¶B. KUWAIT 4186 ¶C. KUWAIT 4008 ¶D. KUWAIT 3873 ¶1. (SBU) Summary and comment: Reducing the number of electoral districts from 25 to 10 is a top priority for reform-minded parliamentarians (MPs) in the next National Assembly session, which begins October 17. They argue that the reduction would reduce electoral corruption by making common practices like vote buying more difficult and bolster a more open, democratic political system. A reform agenda agreed on by the majority of Kuwait's diverse political associations indicates that there is strong support for electoral reform (ref. A). An Arabic-language television program entitled "Priorities of the National Assembly in the Next Session" aired October 1 on Kuwait television and featured three guests from across the political spectrum: Khaled Al-Sultan, a former MP and Chairman of the Traditional Salafi political association; Abdul Mohsen Jamal, a former MP from the National Islamic Alliance (NIA),a conservative Shi'a political association with ties to Iran; and Imad Al-Saif, a liberal lawyer. Though disagreeing on other issues, the three agreed that amending the electoral districts was crucial to political reform in Kuwait. National Guard Chief and ruling family member Shaykh Salem Al-Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah called for electoral reform in a September 26 interview published in Arabic-language daily Al-Qabas. ¶2. (C) Comment: While the Government has publicly supported electoral reform and even submitted two proposals on reducing the number of electoral districts to the National Assembly during its last session, some observers question the Government's sincerity, noting the GOK failed to lobby for change and arguing the Government could lose considerable influence in the National Assembly if the reform was implemented. MPs with vested interests in the status quo are likely to put up strong opposition to reform, setting the stage for an intense political debate. (End summary and comment.) Electoral Reform Returns to Legislative Agenda -------------- - ¶3. (SBU) Emboffs have confirmed that reducing the number of electoral districts from 25 to 10, a key component of the political reform agenda agreed upon by the majority of Kuwait's political associations (ref. A),will be on the legislative agenda when the National Assembly reconvenes October 17. Numerous contacts from across the political spectrum have stressed the importance of reducing the number of districts to stem electoral corruption, especially the practice of vote buying, which is alleged to be common in some electoral districts in Kuwait. The reduction would force parliamentarians to compete for support among a larger pool of voters, thus limiting their ability to engineer election outcomes, and helping to forge greater consensus in the National Assembly on broad policy issues. ¶4. (SBU) In an October 1 television program broadcast on Kuwait TV Channel 1, the official government television station, and entitled "Priorities of the National Assembly in the Next Session," three guests from across the ideological spectrum in Kuwait agreed that electoral reform is critical to political reform. The program featured former MP and Chairman of the Traditional Salafi political association Khaled Al-Sultan, former MP from the conservative, pro-Iran, Shi'a National Islamic Alliance (NIA) Abdul Mohsen Jamal, and liberal lawyer Imad Al-Saif. Jamal criticized the lack of clear and consistent parliamentary priorities, faulting the Government for interfering in the National Assembly and for playing parliamentarians against each other. If the Government is serious about reform, it will approve a reduction in the number of electoral districts, Jamal argued. He also emphasized the need to increase democratic awareness in Kuwait. ¶5. (SBU) Al-Sultan blasted both the Government and MPs for rampant corruption, arguing that some MPs were positioning themselves against issues just to force the Government to pay for their support. Electoral reform is an important first-step in implementing broader political reform, Al-Sultan argued. Without these reforms, nothing will improve, he warned. Al-Saif expressed disappointment about National Assembly politics, which he said were characterized by a "culture of appeasing and satisfying the voter." Electoral corruption could be prevented through political reform, specifically reducing the number of electoral districts, he argued. Without electoral reform, Al-Saif said he would remain pessimistic about Government efforts to combat corruption. Top Al-Sabah Backs Reform -------------- ¶6. (C) Shaykh Salem Al-Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the National Guard Chief and the third highest ranking royal family member, came out in support of electoral reform in a September 26 interview published in the pro-reform Arabic-language daily Al-Qabas. In the interview, Shaykh Salem Al-Ali called for "amending the constituencies" and for allowing military personnel the right to vote, which is currently denied. If these reforms are implemented, there would be a "great change in Kuwaiti democracy for the better," he argued. Nostalgia for the Way It Used to Be -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Until 1980, parliamentary elections in Kuwait were conducted on a ten district system with five MPs elected from each district. Under this system, election campaigns were based primarily on issues of national concern, and less on sectarian or tribal affiliations. An average of five neighborhoods were incorporated in each electoral district ensuring voter diversity. No more than four of the ten districts were characterized by strong tribal affiliations. ¶8. (SBU) When the election law was changed by Amiri Decree in 1980, during a period when the National Assembly was dissolved, tribalism and sectarianism gained greater significance in Kuwaiti politics. The number of districts with strong tribal identity rose to 13 out of 25. Electoral corruption also increased sharply as electoral margins dropped; the smaller districts allowed both individual MPs and the Government to influence a limited number of voters. The number of "service deputies," MPs whose support was based almost solely on doing political favors for their constituents, also increased markedly. ¶9. (SBU) During the last National Assembly session, the Government introduced two proposals to reduce the number of electoral districts. When MPs and the Government could not agree on which proposal to discuss first, the issue was dropped and the proposals sidelined. While the Government faulted the National Assembly, some observers questioned the Government's commitment to reform, speculating that the proposals may have been designed to undermine support for a separate National Assembly proposal. After all, some contacts point out, the Government could lose considerable influence in the National Assembly if the number of electoral districts is reduced. In addition, a significant number of incumbent MPs may calculate that they are unlikely to be re-elected if their safe seats are incorporated into larger districts. ¶10. (SBU) Our contacts insist that reducing the number of electoral districts from 25 to 10 will promote more open and democratic elections as MPs are forced to appeal to a wider range of voters. Many would like to see an even lower number of districts, arguing that five, or even one district would be adequate for Kuwait' relatively small population of voters. However, consensus has emerged that ten is politically feasible. ********************************************* Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website ********************************************* LEBARON