01/09/2022
01/09/2022
KUWAIT CITY, Sept 1: The Ministry of Interior has allowed four of the six citizens accused of organizing by-elections in the Second Constituency to file their candidacies for the 2022 National Assembly election inside the detention cell, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting a source from the security sector. The source confirmed that the ministry responded to the request of the detainees who cannot go to the registration headquarters, because they are currently in pretrial detention as per the directive of the Public Prosecution.
The source disclosed that an officer and an employee from the General Department for Election Affairs went to the public prison and completed the registration process for the four candidates in the presence of the latter’s lawyers. The source added that their candidacy papers will be presented to the Application Assessment Committee, which will assess their applications and submit its final report to Deputy Prime Minister and acting Minister of Defense and Interior Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled. The source explained that the law does not prevent them from running for the election, as they are not yet convicted through a court ruling. A total of 42 citizens, including three women, filed their candidacies on Thursday; increasing the number of candidates to 264 so far – 18 of whom are women.
Following is a breakdown of candidates who registered on Thursday – fourth day of the period allotted for filing of candidacies:
First Constituency: Three candidates – all men – Jamal Sulaiman Al-Qanaie, Essa Hajji Mousa and Wasmi Khalid Al- Wasmi
Second Constituency: 14 candidates – all men – Ahmed Abdrabu Al-Ali, Saqr Hamad Al-Anzi, Fahd Ahmed Al-Anzi, Jaber Saad Al-Majedi, Abdullatif Adnan Al-Heraiji, Muthana Ali Al-Bazali, Hamed Mehri Al- Bazali, Olwi Samawi Al-Dhufairi, Muhammad Baqer Khrebet, Husain Awwad Al-Azmi, Ali Salem Al-Daqbasi, Muhammad Mefarrej Al-Mutairi, Khalil Ibrahem Al-Saleh and Falah Dahi Al-Hajri.
Third Constituency: Five candidates including three women – Ibrahim Muhammad Dashti, Abdullah Ahmed Al-Kandari, Jenan Muhsen Bushehri, Ghana Meshari Al-Otaibi and Fatima Bader Al-Gallaf.
Fourth Constituency: 11 candidates – all men – Saif Awadh Al-Mutairi, Abdullah Menawer Al-Mutairi, Majed Mefarreg Al-Mutairi, Daifullah Bu Ramiya, Askar Owayed Al-Anzi, Mubarak Ersheed Al-Kaami, Abdulrahman Hassan Al-Otaibi, Eid Abdullah Bu Sleeb, Muhammad Awad Al-Mutairi, Abdullah Saad Al-Mutairi and Fawaz Saad Al-Anzi.
Fifth Constituency: Nine candidates – all men – Ibrahim Hendi Al-Hajri, Ahmed Hamad Al-Sahli, Ahmed Shareedah Al- Azmi, Jassem Muhammad Al- Ali, Khalid Shakheer Al-Mutairi, Zeyad Sanad Al-Mutairi, Saeed Saad Al-Qahtani, Abdulhadi Hadi Al-Azmi and Muhammad Musaed Al-Dousari.
Meanwhile, Fourth Constituency candidate Eid Bu Sleeb intends to focus on certain issues in case he wins in the election; such as the cancellation of the Cyber Crimes Law, limiting the loans that Kuwait National Fund for Arab Economic Development grants so the loaned amount is spent only inside the country and raising the standard of living for retirees. Former minister of public works and candidate for the Third Constituency Jenan Bu Shehri believes that the citizens’ lack of trust in public institutions shook the system. She pointed out a large number of citizens think the public institutions are preoccupied with corruption, instead of working in the interest of the people.
Third Constituency candidate Ghada Al-Otaibi revealed she will address issues concerning women. She asserted the country has many competent women, but most citizens prefer to vote for men. Another candidate in the Third Constituency, Fatima Al-Gallaf, said women all over the world are facing difficulties in their bid to win in elections; not just in Kuwait. She added the results of the last parliamentary election did not match the public demands. She argued such a situation necessitates a dramatic change. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff and Agencies