Instructions have been issued to prohibit security personnel in the Ministry of Interior and military personnel in the Kuwait Army from participating in the campaign activities of candidates for the National Assembly elections, as reported by Al-Seyassah daily. According to informed sources, individuals who violate these instructions will face legal consequences, disciplinary actions, and possible court martial. They clarified that Article 13 of Law No. 32/1967 regarding the army and its amendments explicitly states that military personnel are forbidden from engaging in politics or joining any association or union outside of those designated for the army without written permission from the Chief of Staff of the Army. Similarly, members of the police force are prohibited from engaging in politics under the Police Force Law.

Many candidates for the 2024 National Assembly elections have included the citizenship issue in their electoral platforms. Former MP and Fourth Constituency candidate Obaid Mohammad Al-Wasmi pledged to introduce legislation allowing the court to adjudicate citizenship cases. He emphasized that Kuwaiti citizenship is unique, having been affirmed by numerous international resolutions based on documents provided by the government during the Iraqi occupation. Al-Wasmi called upon the Prime Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah to consider the implications of questioning the legitimacy of these documents, which form the basis of numerous international resolutions validating Kuwait’s sovereignty.

The campaign period will conclude on April 2, with April 3 designated as a ‘silent day’ during which candidates and media are prohibited from campaigning. The 2024 National Assembly elections, scheduled for April 4, mark only the second time in Kuwait’s parliamentary history that elections have been held during the holy month of Ramadan. Media figures in Kuwait have noted that the previous election during Ramadan occurred in 2013, while a by-election was held in the 10th constituency in December 2000. Youssef Al-Marzouq, editor-in-chief of Al-Anbaa Newspaper, emphasized the significance of Ramadan’s rituals and traditions in the electoral process, noting that fasting does not hinder active participation in democracy. Dr. Khaled Al-Qehs, a mass communications professor at Kuwait University, highlighted the role of social media in electoral campaigns, particularly during Ramadan, when many Kuwaitis prefer to remain in the country with their families. Dheiran Aba Al-Khail, Secretary General of Kuwait Journalists Association, urged candidates to emphasize the importance of voter participation and national duty, utilizing various media platforms to convey their messages effectively.

The Ministry of Justice has formed a field team to prepare 123 schools to serve as premises for 764 polling stations for the upcoming elections on April 4. These schools will be allocated for polling stations across the five constituencies, ensuring proper facilities for voters to exercise their democratic rights.