Chronology of the Kuwaiti Parliament

Since it was established 53 years ago, the Kuwaiti National Assembly (parliament) has seen major events, some of which led to dissolution or resignation of MPs. The following is a chronology of such significant events in each legislative term since the first one in 1963:

• 1963: A major event of the 1963 parliament was the resignation of eight MPs in protest of approving freedom restriction laws.

• 1967: Seven MPs resigned protesting poll rigging.

• 1971: A motion of no confidence was submitted against Minister of Commerce and Trade Khalid Al-Adsani, but it was rejected by 20-13 votes.

• 1975: The 1975 parliament was dissolved by an Amiri decree in 1976, after the government resigned over the accumulation of several draft bills at the assembly for a long period.

• The 1981 legislative term saw redividing electoral constituencies to 25, instead of 10.

• 1985: The parliament of 1985 was dissolved by an Amiri decree in 1986 against the backdrop of what was known as “climate crisis” and the many grilling motions that followed impacting cooperation between the legislative and the executive Powers.

• 1992: This was the first national assembly after a six-year standstill, following the Iraqi Invasion and the Liberation war.

• 1996: This parliament was dissolved in 1999. It was the first time the parliament was constitutionally dissolved due to abuse of using constitutional tools.

• 1999: Though this legislative term witnessed many grilling motions, yet it was completed.

• 2003: The 2003 parliament swore allegiance to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah after he was nominated by the cabinet. Also, it granted suffrage to Kuwaiti women. It was dissolved, constitutionally, in 2006.

• 2006: This was the first time for Kuwaiti women to take part in parliamentary elections. The parliament was constitutionally dissolved in 2008.

• 2008: It was the first parliament elected in line with the five-constituency system. It was dissolved in 2009 for lack of cooperation between the two powers.

• 2009: This term saw the first ever grilling motion of the prime minister, and the storming of parliament. It was dissolved in 2011.

• 2012 (Feb): Only few months had passed before the Constitutional Court annulled the parliament, reinstating the previous one of 2009.

• 2012 (Dec): This was the first parliament elected according to the one-vote system. It was dissolved in 2013 after the Constitutional Court annulled the legislative elections.

• 2013: It was the first parliament after the Constitutional Court immunized the one-vote system. It saw several grilling motions against ministers, before it was dissolved Sunday, October 16, 2016, for lack of cooperation between the executive and the legislative authorities. — KUNA