Kuwait dissolves parliament, elections to be held within months

Dubai: Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmed Al Sabah today announced the dissolving of the National Assembly (parliament) and called for early elections within the next months.

The move follows a standoff between the government and the elected assembly that led to thwarting reforms in the country.

Sheikh Meshal said: “We will not interfere in people’s selection of their representatives, nor in the election of the speaker of the next elected parliament.”

The decision was announced by the crown prince in a speech on live television in which he said that decrees would be issued on those matters.

On May 10, he accepted the resignation submitted by the government more than a month ago, issuing a decree asking it to stay on in a caretaker role.