ELECTION COUNTDOWN: WELCOME TO THE BIG TOP:

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002419 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2016 TAGS: PGOV KDEM KU FREEDOM AGENDA SUBJECT: ELECTION COUNTDOWN: WELCOME TO THE BIG TOP: CAMPAIGNING KUWAITI STYLE REF: A. KUWAIT 2151 ¶B. 05 KUWAIT 3178 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Matthew H. Tueller for reason 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C/NF) Campaigning in Kuwait is quite a production. In addition to waxing eloquent on all manner of issues, candidates are expected to provide lavish buffets, fresh-squeezed juice, copious amounts of tea and coffee, and big screen TVs showing the latest World Cup match. And all this in the biggest, most ostentatious air-conditioned tent they can afford. EmbOffs' visit to the campaign headquarters of Khalaf Dumaithir Al-Enezi, a six-time, pro-Government member of Parliament from the Al-Enezi tribe, showcased Kuwait's extravagant campaign style, particularly in tribal areas. The environment at Al-Enezi's opening campaign rally can only be described as circus-like: powerful flood lights visible from miles away roamed the sky, strings of multi-colored lights adorned odd-shaped scaffolding resembling a city skyline, 20-foot high cylindrical campaign banners rotated amid freshly planted sod and flowers and a new Mercedes plastered with Al-Enezi's picture. In the middle of all this rose an enormous big top tent the size of an aircraft hanger, capable of seating 1,500 plus people, and costing 27,000 KD ($93,400) per month, according to one supporter. ¶2. (C/NF) Standing on a platform with a fifteen-foot television screen behind him, Al-Enezi energetically addressed a throng of more than 3,000 men, many watching on television screens outside the "tent." Footage of Al-Enezi was smoothly and professionally mixed with footage of the crowd filmed by a camera on a long boom. When Emboffs arrived, they were escorted to the front row, causing Al-Enezi to pause and note to the crowd proudly: "Representatives of the American Embassy." In his speech, Al-Enezi focused on a variety of issues, ranging from his opposition to the establishment of political parties to his ability to obtain Government favors for his constituents. He also promised to introduce legislation writing off the personal loans of all Kuwaiti citizens. He was joined by Awwad Barad Al-Enezi, an Islamist MP running for re-election in a different district, and a senior member of a well-known Shi'a family in the district. Both spoke on Khalaf's behalf. Awwad, who comes from the same tribe as Khalaf but differs with him politically and ideologically, spoke at length about Khalaf's character, which he praised highly in Islamic terms. ¶3. (SBU/NF) After the speech, the assembled throngs bolted for the massive feast laid out on the ground outside. Eating at these events involves 7-8 men squatting around a platter of rice and lamb, which they dig into with astonishing vigor using their hands. EmbOffs were treated to their own platter, which they devoured despite their relative lack of skill. ¶4. (C/NF) A 32-year old cousin of Khalaf's told Poloff that he was skipping work in June due to the demands of campaigning. He explained that during the day he remained at the tent where World Cup matches were shown on the big screen television, and during the evening he either helped with the campaign rallies or visited the diwaniyas of men his age to drum up support for his cousin. (Note: In some districts, there are more than ten thousand diwaniyas, almost one for every family. See ref B for an overview of Kuwait's diwaniya culture. End note.) Asked about the impact of women voting, he said he believed the turnout among female voters would be very low in tribal areas like Al-Enezi's because, according to him, tribal women do not care about politics and cannot be bothered to queue at polling stations. (Comment: Other tribal supporters have suggested that female turnout could be quite high in their districts since women will be called upon to support their tribe's candidates in the elections. End comment.) ¶5. (SBU/NF) Not having adequate time to develop their own campaign style, women have followed the men's example by setting up tents and serving meals, albeit on a less elaborate scale. Aisha Al-Rashaid has seating for more than 1,000 in an air-conditioned tent and outside area situated along a major thoroughfare. Her picture adorns billboard size posters, buttons, flyers, and Kleenex boxes. Attorney Hind Ben Al-Shaikh set up separate areas for women and men, but her supporters chose to intermingle in the larger chandelier-lit tent. According to both supporters and critics, Dr. Rola Dashti served one of the best meals in the history of election campaigning ("even better than a wedding" according to one contact) and there is lots of curiosity KUWAIT 00002419 002 OF 002 about who catered the event. Even those candidates with limited financial means feel the burden to entertain potential voters. Contacts report that many of the women running for office, with the assistance of friends, family, and campaign staff, are personally cooking the meals to be served. Generous hospitality is part of the campaign culture, and one Embassy contact who criticized the ostentatious events regretted that several candidates whose tents he visited had solid platforms--but without good food, the regular distribution of flyers, cassettes, and CDs, their chances for being elected were minimal. ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * TUELLER