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Min 09º Max 22º FREE www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 17061 - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2016 Local FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2016 Elections 2016: Understanding the constituencies By B Izzak uwaitis head to the polls tomorrow to elect a Knew 50-seat national assembly to replace the outgoing house which was dissolved by the Amir after almost three and a half years, becoming the longest-surviving assembly since 2003. It is the seventh parliamentary election since mid-2006. The previous six assemblies were either dissolved by the Amir over political disputes or by the court due to procedural flaws. The past decade has been one of the most unstable in Kuwait’s his- tory. There are 483,200 voters, over 52 percent of them are females. Kuwait’s election law bars mili- tary and police personnel from voting. Age of vot- ing in Kuwait is 21. The country is divided into five electoral districts with each one of them electing 10 MPs. In total, around 300 candidates including 13 women are competing. The following is a brief look at the main races in the five constituencies: First Constituency: The main areas include Bayan, Meshref, Rumeithiya, Salmiya, Salwa, Shaab, Dueiya, Sharq and others. Voters: 78,643 including 41,660 women and 36,983 male. Candidates: 52 candidates are contesting. They include 10 members from the dissolved house and nine former MPs. The district has three major voter sections: Sunnis, Shiites and Awazem tribe which is Sunni Bedouins. In the last polls, five Shiites and five Sunnis were elected. The Sunnis included two Awazem. Second Constituency: The main areas include: Qadsia, Mansouriya, Nuzha, Faiha, Sulaibkhat, Shamiya, Dahiyat ence for Shiites and tribes, mainly the Oteibi tribe. addition, there are strong sections from other tribes Sabah Al-Salem and others. Abdullah Al-Salem and Doha. Voters: 55,376 includ- The district has five opposition figures all of like Shemmari, Ajmi, Dhafiri and also some Shiite Voters: 135,512 including 67,584 women and ing 29,026 women and 26,350 men. Candidates: 44 them were former MPs and they have a strong sup- votes. 67,928 men. It is the only district where male voters candidates including seven members from the pre- port. Normally, eight seats are divided between Mutairi tribe is the largest voter base followed are more than females. vious assembly and eight former MPs. This con- Islamists and liberals and the remaining two seats immediately with Rashidis. In the past, the two Candidates: 69 candidates including seven from stituency is basically urban Sunni with strong Shiite are taken by tribes and Shiites. The composition is tribes used to get four seats each and the remain- the previous house and six former MPs all of them and tribal contingents. expected to hold this time. ing two seats divided among others. Tribal factors from the opposition. and the number of candidates in each tribe are the This is another tribal constituency with some Third Constituency Fourth Constituency: main crucial factors for winning seats. small presence for Shiites and urban voters. Main areas include: Kifan, Khaldiya, Jabriya, Main areas include Farwaniya, Juleeb Al- Awazem and Ajmans are the main tribes which South Surra, Khitan, Udailiya and others. Shiyookh, Ardhiya, Ferdous, Andalus, Rabiya, Fifth Constituency used to bag four seats each. Under the present sys- Voters: 86,247 including 46,572 women and Ishbiliya and Jahra. Main areas include Fahaheel, Ahmadi, Sabahiya, tem, it is unlikely to happen. 39,675 men. Voters: 127,408 including 67,914 women and Dhaher, Hadiya, Fintas, Mangaf, Umm Al-Haiman, Candidates: 54 candidates who include nine 59,949 men. Candidates: 68 candidates who members from the dissolved assembly and seven include eight members of the dissolved house and former MPs including five opposition figures. There eight former MPs, all of them from the opposition are at least six new young faces that have made including three of whom Islamists and the rest are Kuwaitis head to election their presence strongly felt during the campaign. nationalists. This is described as the most politicized constituen- This is a predominantly tribal constituency with hoping to stop austerity cy in Kuwait. It is mainly Sunni but with good pres- Mutairi and Rashidi tribes are the main voters. In KUWAIT: Kuwaitis vote tomorrow for a new HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- parliament they hope will halt austerity Sabah, 87, dissolved the parliament in October measures forced by falling oil revenues in after a dispute between lawmakers and the the emirate, known for its cradle-to-grave government over petrol price hikes of up to welfare system. With the return of opposi- about 80 percent. The government said the tion groups after a four-year boycott, the move was taken to reduce subsidies, boost outcome of the snap elections is seen as cru- non-oil revenues and plug the emirate’s first cial for shaping the domestic politics of the budget deficit after 16 years of surpluses. oil-rich Gulf state. The seventh polls in a Economic issues dominated the campaign but decade follow one of the most intense elec- other issues like political reforms and public tion campaigns seen in Kuwait, with opposi- freedoms were also highlighted by the 300 tion and pro-government candidates trading candidates who include 14 women. Many run- barbs over corruption and other allegations. ning for office lashed out at the government The opposition is being tipped to make a for raising charges and fuel prices while failing strong showing, with many members of the to fight corruption. They have pledged to pro- previous parliament expected to lose their hibit such hikes. seats, but is likely to fall well short of a major- Almost all opposition groups boycotted ity. “The return of opposition groups is the the previous two elections, in December most significant development in this elec- 2012 and July 2013, in protest after the gov- tion,” said analyst Ayed Al-Manna. “The ernment unilaterally amended the voting opposition comeback could lead to a nation- system. Around 30 opposition candidates, al reconciliation after years of bitter dis- including several former MPs, and a number putes,” the political scientist said. Kuwait’s of their allies are vying for places in the 50- parliament is considered the most powerful seat parliament. Political analyst Anwar Al- in the Gulf Arab states thanks to its legisla- Rasheed said he expects that “between 70 tive and monitoring capacities, but most of percent and 90 percent of the outgoing law- the political clout still lies with the ruling makers will not be re-elected because the family. voters are very upset with their perform- Local FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2016 Kuwaitis must bring original citizenship card to cast ballot The National Assembly Election silence in effect today ‘KD 5,000 fine for violators KUWAIT: A day ahead of the National Assembly (parliament) elections, for the 15th Legislative Term, due tomorrow, election silence takes effect in Kuwait as of today. The law provides that the media, even electronic media, is not allowed to practice any activities regarding the candidates’ electoral campaigns. Nominees themselves will have to bring their campaigning to a complete halt. Anyone, including the media, caught breaking the mandated silence will be subject to a KD 5,000 fine, according to a Ministry of Interior official who asked not to be named. Pre-election silence aims to give voters a chance to carefully consider their choice for the election day. The media can only by Abrar Al-Khelaifa one for a single day use on the polling day. The Interior offer messages to educate the voters on elections, or urge them Ministry has completed all its administrative and security to positively take part in the vote. KUWAIT: Kuwaiti voters who visit polling stations tomorrow preparations ahead of the upcoming elections slated for According to the Ministry of Information’s relevant decree, to vote in the 2016 parliamentary elections are requested to November 26. broadcasting, re-broadcasting or publishing any interviews, pro- bring their original citizenship cards to be stamped by the Security officers of the polling stations are expected to grams or reports with candidates for the National Assembly judge according to the law in this regard. Every Kuwaiti who transfer the ballot boxes to the electoral committee head- elections or the Municipal Council, is prohibited on the polling has lost his or her citizenship card can obtain a temporary quarters and hand them to the heads of committees.— Kuna day, and the day before it. The National Assembly was dissolved by an Amiri Decree on October 16. — Kuna Local FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2016 PHOTO OF THE DAY Local Spotlight When food is a culture shock By Muna Al-Fuzai A man takes a break and [email protected] smokes shisha. — Photo by Ali Al-Roumi had an interesting discussion a few days back with a Iforeign couple who are new in town, and it was about food. Sometimes food can cause culture shock, espe- cially if you crave certain foods and drinks that are not available or forbidden in Kuwait, and are introduced to new kinds of food that are not part of your cuisine back home. They asked me about Kuwaiti food, as they had heard it is delicious. There are some popular cuisines like Chinese or Indian readily available here, so many expats in Kuwait are not familiar with our food. Most ancient and tradi- tional countries also have their own herbs, spices and dishes. IN MY VIEW Pork is preferred by some expats, which is something they like to have at least once a week, but it is banned here as Islam forbids eating the flesh of swine.

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