Electoral Silence, Prior To Kuwait's Parliamentary Election Next Tuesday

KUWAIT, June 4 (KUNA) -- The State of Kuwait will enter on Monday the election silence period a day ahead of its parliamentary elections due on Tuesday June 6th.
The electoral silence, also called blackout period or campaign silence is a ban on political campaigning or media coverage of a general election, before or during the polling, according to Ministerial Resolution No. (17) of 2023 It comes to prevent disruption of the electoral process, in addition to giving voters the opportunity to select the nation's representatives objectively.
In this regard, the electronic support observer at the Ministry of Information Fahd Al-Harbi told (KUNA) on Sunday, that the application of (electoral silence) is carried out through work teams affiliated with the Ministry represented in the (audio-visual), (local press) and (electronic publishing) departments, The mission of these departments is to follow up and monitor what is published in all licensed media, including television, radio channels, and newspapers to verify Extent of commitment and taking legal action against violators, Al-Harbi added.
Professor at the College of Law at Kuwait University, Dr. Muhammad Bozbar, told (KUNA) that (electoral silence) is an international practice aims to to create the appropriate atmosphere to ensure that the choices of male and female voters are not prejudiced or influenced by the various media.
On his part, Lawyer Hussain Al-Abdullah explained that in spite the entry of the (election silence) decision into force, it is still difficult to control the scene with the spread of social media and nontraditional media platforms.
In a similar statement to KUNA, the editor-in-chief of (Al-Rai) newspaper Walid Al-Jassem, noted that (electoral silence) consolidates the principle of justice between candidates and does not affect the voters' orientation before the polling process.
He stressed the need to reconsider the ban including publication and advertising campaigns, as the use of social media widely spread, praising the political awareness of the Kuwaiti citizen, which makes them aware from any negative propaganda that tries to direct their voices.
Relatively, Assistant Director of the Kuwaiti Transparency Society, Dr. Fahd Al-Raqeeb, told KUNA that the electoral silence aims to achieve justice and quiet competition without disturbing the choices of male and female voters.
He affirmed the society's keenness to exercise its role during the electoral process by following up, monitoring and writing reports on any violations or breaches of the electoral silence.(end) sha.msa.nhq

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