The Kuwaiti cabinet on Monday passed a decree setting May 16 for snap parliamentary elections, state minister for cabinet affairs Faisal al-Hajji said. According to AFP, the decree will now be issued by the emir.
The new general election will be the second in a year and the third since May 2006 in the country that has been rocked by a series of political crises.
The outgoing parliament was elected on May 17, 2008 but it was dissolved after Islamist MPs filed three requests to quiz the prime minister over a variety of allegations. The demands had prompted the cabinet to tender its resignation.
After dissolving parliament, the emir said he took the decision to "safeguard the security of the nation and its stability."
The elections decree opens the door for registration of candidates, which is expected to begin within the next few days.