Govt 20 June announced 25 July elections following Constitutional Court’s dissolution of parliament, later changed  date to 27 July.

Sentencing of key opposition leader and former MP Mussallam al-Barrak to 5 years’ prison 15 April for insulting emir breathed new life into flagging protest movement. Human Rights Watch 16 April urged govt to drop charges against Barrak. Barrak refused to turn himself in; thousands of protesters clashed with police 18 April after raid on Barrak’s house in failed 4th attempt to arrest him. Appeal court 22 April decided to release Barrak on bail, adjourned hearing to 13 May.

Protests in Kuwait City suburbs 6, 13 and 22 Jan drew hundreds demanding dissolution of parliament elected in Dec polls which opposition boycotted, and scrapping of controversial Nov 2012 amendment of electoral law. Security forces violently dispersed 6, 22 Jan protests, reportedly arrested 70. Unprecedented demonstration outside Palace of Justice 28 Jan protesting trial of opposition leader and former MP Mussallam al-Barrak on charges of insulting emir; police did not interfere.

Controversial 1 Dec parliamentary election saw lowest ever turnout in Kuwait’s electoral history at 40%. Opposition hailed boycott a success, described election and new parliament dominated by pro-govt MPs as “unconstitutional”; staged near-daily protests in following weeks, some drawing tens of thousands, demanding newly elected parliament and disputed electoral law be abolished. Large demonstration and sit-in 15-16 Dec protesting inauguration of new MPs and ministers.

Ahead of 1 Dec elections, continued demonstrations pro- testing Oct change to voting rules; opposition groups continued to urge boycott of vote. Demonstrators clashed with police 31 Oct-1 Nov. Large opposition demonstration violently dispersed 4 Nov; activists accused security services of arbitrarily detaining protesters. Tens of thousands of opposition supporters demonstrated peacefully 11 and 30 Nov.

Thousands protested mid- to late-Oct against govt changes to election law, criticised as attempt to limit opposition’s prospects at 1 Dec parliamentary elections. Govt changed law despite it being confirmed by Constitutional Court 25 Sept. Scores injured, 15 detained in clashes with security forces, including 3 former opposition MPs. Thousands of protesters end-month demanding release of opposition leader Musallam al-Barrack, defying 23 Oct ban on protests; clashed with security forces.

Kuwait became first gulf state to replace leader using constitutional and parliamentary process. Parliament ousted Saad al-Abdullah on health grounds after his succession on 15 January following death of emir. Current PM Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah chosen as replacement.