Parliament Dissoluton in Kuwait Would Add to Already Interesting Election Season

Media reports are indicating that the Kuwaiti Amir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad, is likely to dissolve Parliament imminently, with electiohs to be called perhaps in May. The reason appears to be a frequent one for Kuwaiti dissolutions: Parliament is seeking to question the Prime Minister, who is a member of the ruling family, on alleged improprieties. Often when Parliament is seeking to question a member of the Sabah famly, the Amir simply goes to the country for a new Parliament. If so, there will be two interesting Parliamentary campaigns this spring, Kuwait's in May and Lebanon's in June. And the Iranian Presidential election is also fast approaching, also in June, so it will be an interesting seasonof genuinely contested elections. (I omit the Algerian Presidential election, the outcome of which is not in doubt.)

Yemen also had Parliamentary elections due in April, but Parliament is in the process of extending its term by two years, postponing the vote.