FREEDOM AGENDA: BACKGROUND ON ELECTORAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 004314

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KDEM KU FREEDOM AGENDA
SUBJECT: FREEDOM AGENDA: BACKGROUND ON ELECTORAL
CONSTITUENCIES IN KUWAIT

REF: KUWAIT 4008

Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reason 1.4 (b)


1. (C) Paragraph two is a translation of a document on
reform of electoral constituencies in Kuwait, drafted by
Shaykh Nassar Al-Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, the son of the
Prime Minister and an advisor to the Amir and PM, on December
17, 2002. Shaykh Nassar provided the Ambassador with a copy
following their September 10 meeting and noted that he was
urging his father to reduce the number of electoral districts
(reftel). While the information is slightly dated, debate
around the issue has not changed, and the document provides
useful background.


2. (SBU) Begin text:

First: Historic Background and Information
--------------

1) A resolution was issued designating the electoral
constituencies for the Constituent Assembly elections.
(Note: The Constituent Assembly, which met from December 30,
1961 to January 15, 1963, was primarily responsible for
drafting the Constitution, which outlined the roles and
responsibilities of the different government bodies,
including the National Assembly. End note.) There were ten
constituencies, each electing two MPs. The resolution was
published in edition 347 of the official Gazette, "Kuwait
Al-Youm," on September 10, 1961.

2) In 1962, the Constituent Assembly ratified Law No. 35
outlining election procedures for National Assembly members.
The law designated ten electoral constituencies, each
electing five MPs. It was published in edition 378 of the
official Gazette, "Kuwait Al-Youm," on November 13, 1962.

3) The first (1963),second (1967),third (1971),and fourth
(1975) National Assembly elections were conducted on the
basis of the ten constituency electoral system.

4) The division of the ten constituencies in the last
elections (January 27, 1975) (prior to the amendment of the
electoral law increasing the number of districts) were
conducted as follows: The first constituency incorporated
the neighborhoods of Al-Sharq, Dasman, Bnaid Al-Gar,
Al-Mattabba, Al-Bloush and Al-Sawaber. The second
constituency incorporated the neighborhoods of Qibla, Mirgab
and Salhiya. The third constituency incorporated the
neighborhoods of Shuwaikh, Suleibikhat, Jahra, desert and
Laborers City. The fourth constituency incorporated the
neighborhoods of Shamiya, Roudha, Farwaniya, Jileeb
Al-Shoyoukh, Udhailiya. The fifth constituency incorporated
the neighborhoods of Kaifan, Khaldiya, Abraq Khaitan, Surra.
The sixth constituency incorporated the neighborhoods of
Qadisiya, Mansouriya, Faiha, Al-Hadika. The seventh
constituency incorporated the neighborhoods of Dasma, Di'iya,
Failaka and all islands. The eighth constituency
incorporated the neighborhoods of Hawalli, Nugra, Kaberiya,
Udailiya. The ninth constituency incorporated the
neighborhoods of Salmiya, Rumaithiya, Bida', Al-Ras and
Al-Shi'ib. The tenth constituency incorporated the
neighborhoods of Ahmadi, Magwa', Wara, Subaihiya, Ji'aidan,
Burqan, Fahahil, Mangaf and Fintas.

5) During the dissolution of the National Assembly (from
1976 to 1981),the Government issued an Amiri Decree by Law
No. 99/1980 canceling the electoral divisions as established
by the Constituent Assembly, and re-districting the electoral
constituencies for the National Assembly elections. It was
published in edition 1332 of the official Gazette, "Kuwait
Al-Youm," on December 21, 1980. Accordingly, the number of
the electoral constituencies was increased from 10 to 25, and
the number of MPs elected from each constituency was reduced
from five to two.

Second: Remarks on elections under the ten constituencies,
which were instituted by the Constituent Assembly
-------------- --------------

Elections were conducted primarily on the basis of national
political issues of general concern. The number of
predominantly tribal electoral constituencies was not more
than four of the ten constituencies. Each constituency
incorporated an average of five neighborhoods; the difference
between the number of voters in each constituency was limited.

Third: Remarks on elections under the current 25 electoral
constituencies division
-------------- --------------

The number of primarily tribal electoral constituencies
increased (with the change in the electoral system),becoming
13 of the 25 constituencies. Tribal and sectarian election
primaries, not practiced under the previous electoral system,
began to be conducted under the new system. (Note: The
smaller constituencies allowed tribal and/or sectarian groups
which dominated a particular constituency to conduct
primaries before the general elections to choose their own
candidates, effectively engineering electoral outcomes. End
note.) Due to the small size of each constituency and the
possibility of influencing a limited number of voters,
vote-buying activities, previously limited to only a few
constituencies, increased. Pressures on MPs to attend to the
demands of their constituents for services and processing
paperwork through government ministries also increased due to
the small size of the constituencies and the tribal
representation of the voters. (Note: Support for many MPs,
particularly those from tribal areas, is based on their
ability to deliver services, such as using their "wasta"
(influence) to process paperwork through government
ministries, thus giving rise to the label "Service Deputies."
End note.) Differences in the number of voters in each
constituency increased. There were also constituencies
covering only one residential neighborhood, and some that
incorporated residential areas not connected geographically,
such as Salmiya and Salwa (which are incorporated in one
constituency, bypassing over Rumaithiya which separates
them). With the number of MPs elected from each district
reduced from five to two, the candidates were forced to
compete for votes among a smaller number of voters,
increasing the intensity of electoral competitions.

Fourth: Ten Constituencies as prelude for reform
-------------- --------------

The reinstatement of the ten constituency electoral system,
with the addition of the new residential areas, is an
appropriate prelude to electoral reform. The size of the
constituencies will be bigger and will incorporate several
neighborhoods, as opposed to one or two. The average number
of voters in each constituency will be around 12,000; the
total number of voters is now more than 126,000. (Note: This
information was current in 2002 and does not include women,
who were given the right to vote in May 2005. Post estimates
the total voting population is now around 380,000. End
note.) This will weaken the tribal, sectarian, and familial
influence on elections. It will also curb vote-buying
activities and reduce the pressures of the voters on the
candidates and MPs to attend to their demands for services
and processing government paperwork. Elections under the ten
constituency system will be based on issues of general
concern.

End text.

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