KUWAIT CITY, Aug 8: Members of the Development and Reform and Popular Labor blocs have agreed to push for the approval of several draft bills in the next legislative round.
According to a reliable parliamentary source, the proposals include ways to combat corruption, implement administrative and financial reforms in public institutions, regulate procedures for the appointment of leaders, hold those who neglect their duties responsible, and require officials to submit a statement of their assets and liabilities. He said the concerned committees will look into the proposals and submit reports to the Parliament for voting in November.

The source explained the bills will be referred to the government for inclusion to its list of priorities in the next round. He said both blocs are hoping for the cooperation of ministers, especially Minister of Communications and State Minister for National Assembly Affairs Dr Mohammad Al-Busairi and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Roudhan Al-Roudhan. He expects the approval of important bills in the next round, such as those on the appointment of leaders, publication of transparency and equality principles adopted in the appointment of qualified employees to various leadership posts in local newspapers, strict implementation of rules on the nomination and selection of officials in public agencies, evaluation of the experience of persons nominated to these posts, and establishment of an institute for senior management or centers for government leaders.

Meanwhile, MP Dr Waleed Al-Tabtabaei confirmed the bill on the appointment of supervisors was forwarded to the Financial Affairs Committee after its legislative counterpart completed discussions in the previous legislative round. He urged the panel to quickly finalize discussions on the bill to include it in the agenda for the first parliamentary session in the next round.
Al-Tabtabaei clarified the bill on the appointment of government leaders includes the formation of a neutral committee to assess the qualifications of the nominees. He called on his colleagues to expedite procedures of the approval of the bill, claiming the executive authority is not keen on enacting it.
On the other hand, MP Musallam Al-Barrak opined the government is currently experiencing difficulties in sourcing funds for the implementation of its development plan to the hurried approval of the program in the previous round. He believes the government’s inability to complete the necessary procedures and enact related laws before the approval of the plan may impede its implementation.

Speaking to reporters Sunday, Al-Barrak warned the development plan might not be implemented within the agreed period and would remain part of a beautiful dream, since the government has pushed for its approval despite the absence of harsher penalties.
On the current status of the Popular Labor Bloc, Al-Barrak asserted the bloc is more united now and there is no truth to rumors of disagreements among its members. He affirmed the bloc has a wide base of supporters, while accusing some parties of spreading false information on the group.