US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4314

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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LEBARON