Kuwait votes for third time in three years under new Emir Sheikh Mesal

Vote-weary Kuwait heads to the polls for the third time in three years just months into the reign of a new emir but with no end in sight to the major oil exporter's chronic political paralysis.

Elections have become an almost annual occurrence for the OPEC member country, which has seven percent of the world's oil reserves and the monarchical Gulf's most powerful elected assembly.

However, the parliament's clashes with the royal-appointed cabinet have led to a cycle of stalemate, dissolution and fresh elections, delaying much-needed reforms.

Almost 835,000 voters are eligible to choose 50 MPs from 200 candidates, including just 13 women on Thursday, in only the second Kuwaiti election held during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Polls opened at 0900 GMT and will close at 2100 GMT. Results are expected on Friday, followed by the resignation of the first government appointed by the new emir.

"Kuwait's participatory politics is unmatched in the region," Kuwait University political analyst Bader al Saif told AFP.

"Its system requires a reset and urgently needed reforms no doubt, but the fact that it enables its citizens to express themselves and have a say in governance makes it different."

Sluggish economy

Sheikh Meshal al Ahmad al Sabah, formerly the world's oldest crown prince, came to power at age 83 in December after the death of his half-brother and predecessor, Sheikh Nawaf.

He aimed both the cabinet and parliament in his inaugural speech to the assembly and then announced an era of "reform" as he picked Kuwait's first foreign minister from outside the ruling family.

But in February, the national assembly was dissolved once again, accused in a royal decree of constitutional violations including "offensive and inappropriate language", after a lawmaker responded to the emir's criticism.

Thursday's polls the third since 2022, and the fourth in five years are unusual as the incoming parliament will be tasked with approving Sheikh Mesal's choice of crown prince, Kuwait's future emir.

Kuwaitis, a minority in the mainly expatriate population of more than 4.3 million, blame the political standoffs for a sluggish economy, ageing infrastructure and an inability to enact reforms.

Meanwhile, resource-rich neighbours Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are racing ahead with economic diversification plans.