Coronavirus fears are unlikely to affect the turnout in Kuwait's parliamentary elections, experts said.
Voters will choose from 326 candidates for 50 of the 65 parliamentary seats across five constituencies on December 5.
It is the first ballot to be held in the country without the participation of ruler Sheikh Sabah, who died in September.
His half-brother, Sheikh Nawaf, was sworn in as emir on September 29.
"While most, if not all, Kuwaitis have praised the late Sheikh Sabah, many are expecting more from Sheikh Nawaf, prompting people to name this period as the New Era," Nabeel Nowairah, an independent Gulf analyst told The National.
The public hopes that Sheikh Nawaf can make a difference to pressing issues in the country, including corruption, he said.
Turnout could be high because the public wants a strong parliament, Hamad Al Baloshi, assistant professor of political science at Kuwait University, told The National.
People might want to participate "because they want a change in the country, especially with the poor performance of the previous parliament", Mr Al Baloshi said.
Some political groups and politicians who have not taken part in elections since 2012 are doing so this time around.
Hassan Jowhar, a member of parliament and political scientist, as well as the opposition Progressive Movement are involved in this year's elections.
“Sheikh Nawaf has made good gestures by meeting with prominent opposition figures. All these could be interpreted as encouraging signs for more participation in the elections,” Mr Nowairah said.
Twenty-six of the candidates in this election are women. The last National Assembly, which concluded in September, had only one female member. In 2016, 15 women ran, but only Safa Al Hashem was victorious.
When the registration period ended, there was a total of 396 candidates, including a record 33 women. However, the number dropped after 54 candidates, two of whom were women, withdrew from the race.
Impact of coronavirus on the ballot
The pandemic has changed how candidates are campaigning, with many taking to social media to encourage people to vote.
Candidates posted videos and campaign materials on Twitter and other platforms.
Voters will be further encouraged to vote by the way the government is dealing with the pandemic.
“Many Kuwaitis think that the current government has proved to be efficient in dealing with the pandemic, especially that this is a worldwide problem,” Mr Nowairah said.
Kuwait has reported more than 143,000 coronavirus cases to date, including 886 deaths, by election day.
Parliament will allow people infected with coronavirus, as well as those abiding by quarantine regulations, to cast their vote on the day.
But as the government focused its energy on dealing with virus-related obstacles that may impede turnout, it neglected to register eight new residential areas in the five electoral districts.
Voter registration has increased slightly, with 567,694 people on the electoral roll compared with 483,000 in 2016.
But there has been a decrease in candidate registration from 2016, when 440 people stood for office.
On Saturday, 102 schools will open for people to cast their votes. Each school will have a clinic set up to check the health of all those entering.
Only people who registered to vote and are over the age of 21 can cast a ballot, according to the Kuwaiti election law.
SHAITTAN
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
ENGLAND SQUAD
Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
