KUWAIT CITY, May 10: The first parliamentary session including the new government kicked-off to a dramatic start on Tuesday with MPs walking out while the Cabinet was in process of taking its Constitutional Oath. His Highness the Prime Minister, Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, sought to amend relations with the legislative authority by tasking various state ministries and departments to establish civil societies and create draft laws responsible for fighting corruption and strengthening national unity.

“Past experiences have proven that political stability is a necessary condition for security and economic development. This will be the result if the National Assembly and the government work together and is an invitation to begin a new approach within the political arena. By reforming our practices we can achieve development and the standards we wish for our country and our people and replace the feelings of frustration,” the PM said in his speech in front of the assembly.

Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah thanked His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, for renewing his confidence in him and urged all parties to overcome their differences through reasonable and respective dialogue. He added that the government confirms its endeavor to achieve constructive cooperation with the NA and is committed to the provisions of the Constitution.

The new Cabinet was sworn in to begin their executive work, however anti-government MPs Musallam Al-Barrak, Mubarak Al-Walaan, Mohammed Hayef, Falah Al-Sawwagh, Daifallah Buramiyah, Ali Al-Deqbasi, Saifi Al-Saifi, Waleed Al-Tabtabae, Salem Al-Namlan and Khaled Tahous withdrew from the session, clearly stating their rejection of Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah. They returned when the assembly resumed its agenda. The parliament was almost full quorum with 57 members but with the absence of the Minister of Defense and MPs Faisal Al-Muslim and Hussein Al-Qallaf.

A number of the MPs vocally objected to the new government formation and MP Adel Al-Saraawy, who adamantly opposes Deputy Prime Minster for Economic Affairs Sheikh Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, argued with Speaker of Parliament on the latter ‘s refusal to allow opposition MPs to voice their concerns.
In an effort to win over the legislative authority and begin a new chapter, Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah revealed his “new approach” and said that the Cabinet has ordered concerned entities to strengthen the relations between the executive and legislative authorities and work on reducing their political differences. He said that the government is determined to “implement the law on everything without exceptions through specific and effective mechanisms.”

The PM revealed that the Ministerial Committee for Economic Affairs in cooperation with the Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development is mandated to follow-up on the government’s performance and create a development program for the government to work on during the upcoming period. The National Assembly is then entitled to review the performance within the state development plan according to Article 98 of the Constitution, he added.

The Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs as well as concerned entities, including the state legislative and legal department, are also directed to prepare a draft law in one month time designed to address the causes of division in national unity, sectarianism and intolerance within Kuwaiti society.

Furthermore, the Ministerial Committee for Education along with concerned authorities and civil societies were assigned to develop a well thought out plan within three months that aims to promote national unity and loyalty within the State of Kuwait and instill the right notions of citizenship.

The Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs and the Ministerial Committee for Economic Affairs were also tasked to prepare a draft law establishing the National Authority for Integrity and Fighting Corruption. The authority will implement international conventions in that regard as well as take preventive measures against the manifestations of administrative and financial corruption. The Commission was requested to submit the draft law in a month’s time. The legal affairs committee was also asked to review financial and administrative regulations and procedures of the various state entities in coordination with regulatory agencies (Audit Bureau).

Moreover, the Ministry of Information and Ministry of Communication were tasked with strengthening the role of the media to build good relations between Kuwait and other friendly countries. The Minister of State for Municipal Affairs, Dr. Fadhel Safar, was also ordered to expedite the completion of a draft law establishing the Public Authority for Monitoring Foodstuff to protect the health and safety of consumers and catch and prosecute offenders. The law should be completed within two months. The Municipality was also tasked to prepare a draft law that stiffens the penalties of those who import and sell spoiled food.

Meanwhile, MP Adnan Abdulsamad was elected as Secretary of the National Assembly, replacing MP Ali Al-Rashid who is now Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs. In a re-election, Abdulsamad won 32 votes in his favor against MP Mubarak Al-Khurainej. Al-Khurainej had won the first election with 30 votes, however Speaker of Parliament, Jassem Al-Khorafi, said that there was a legal flaw and requested and new election.
In another development, a draft law that aims to give an extra KD 50 to national employees whose salaries exceed KD 1,000 was referred to the government for implementation. Forty-six members were in favor of the law which is believed will achieve social justice by matching a previous similar law where this segment of society was not included. The government had earlier rejected the draft law and returned it the assembly citing that it is unnecessary.

Furthermore, the assembly voted for a Legal and Legislative Committee report that rejects the cancellation of MP Khalaf Dumaitheer’s membership in light of a legal case against him. The report concluded that the verdict passed on Dumaitheer does not warrant revoking his membership and 34 members approved the conclusion allowing the MP to maintain his parliamentary membership.

Abdullah Al-Salem Hall at the National Assembly was packed with teachers and students eager to listen to discussions pertaining to their salary increments and cheered on their supporters in the quorum. The session was extended and a draft law to grant allowances and bonuses to Education Ministry members was approved in its first round of votes by 43 members, while all 10 ministers present objected or abstained. The Minister of Education requested more time to review the law before passing it.

The law stipulates that teachers be rewarded the functional level allowance, supervision and guidance allowance of KD 150 as well as a rare specialty allowance worth KD 200. It also grants masters scientific qualification holders KD 200 and KD 400 for PhDs holders. Moreover, the assembly approved a recommendation to increase the allowances of students at Kuwait University (KU) and Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) from KD 100 to KD 200.

MPs Ahmad Al-Saadoun and Abdulrahman Al-Anjari on Tuesday submitted a grilling request against HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to the National Assembly Secretariat.
The grilling motion, which was prepared by the Popular Labor Bloc, includes four issues — violations in the development plan, Zain Telecommunications Company, environmental compensation and Abu Fateera.
Speaking in a press conference after presenting the grilling motion, Al-Anjari asserted they respect the prime minister but they want him to hold the erring ministers accountable and implement reforms. He said it is wrong to monopolize the post of prime minister in a democratic regime like Kuwait , especially since Sheikh Nasser has formed six failed governments. He added the grilling will be discussed in a professional manner.

Al-Saadoun, on the other hand, lamented a number of important issues have been left pending over the last seven years and this government has done nothing to solve them. He criticized the government for its inability to establish even one company as stipulated in the comprehensive development plan and implement the laws related to the establishment of a warehousing company. He disclosed the original plan was to include eight points in the grilling request but they later decided to focus on four issues and submit another interpellation on the other issues.

Al-Saadoun also rejected calls for the discussion of the grilling behind closed doors. “We want to be transparent for the people to know the government’s failure and what kind of support it needs from the Parliament,” he added.

MP Musallam Al-Barrak asked his colleagues not to jump into conclusions with regards to the grilling request, which should be studied thoroughly before making any comment, because it includes serious issues. He urged them to read and study the points first before making any comment. He said it is better if the premier faces the grilling in an open session, adding that referring the motion to the Constitutional Court or the Legislative Affairs Committee in the Parliament will be the first step that the government will take to dodge political questioning.

In another development, a reliable parliamentary source disclosed Al-Anjari had a heated argument with other members of the National Action Bloc, because they are against his participation in the grilling of the prime minister and he did not coordinate with them in this regard. He clarified his participation was his personal decision and the bloc has not arrived at a unified decision on the issue. He also asked them to vote on the no-confidence motion against the premier.

Commenting on the same issue, MP Adel Al-Saraawi said the bloc recognizes the right of every MP to use their constitutional tool to grill erring ministers as this is part of their supervisory role. He corroborated Al-Anjari’s statement that it was his personal decision to take part in the grilling, not the bloc.

Al-Saraawi confirmed the bloc will deal with the grilling objectively, while unveiling a plan to resubmit the interpellation request against Deputy Premier for Economic Affairs Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Sabah, who he accused of causing the resignation of the previous government. He went on to say the bloc expressed during Tuesday’s session its reservations on the return of the ministers, who have been subjected to grilling motions in the previous government.

MP Dr Waleed Al-Tabtabaei affirmed that he and MP Mohammed Hayef will present another grilling against the prime minister in case the interpellation of the Popular Labor Bloc does not lead to his ouster.
Talking about the development plan as the major issue in the grilling motion, the proponents of the grilling explained they will question the premier in his capacity as head of the government, which failed to establish public stock companies for the implementation of the development plan for fiscals 2010/2011 to 2013/2014. They said the Parliament has approved the plan since the issuance of law numbers 60/1986 and 9/2010. They added various economic and financial authorities, which closely followed up the enactment of the privatization law and other legislation related to the development projects, responded positively to the plan. In February, the Parliament finally approved the plan with an estimated cost of KD 31 billion ($108 billion) and it is considered the first of six development programs that is line with the vision of Kuwait to become a financial and commercial hub by 2035. One of the major aspects of this vision is to reactivate the role of the private sector through the implementation of reforms and activation of private investments. Through this step, half of the expenditures on the development plan will come from the private sector as direct investment through the BOT system or the private and public companies, they added.

The proponents of the grilling also criticized the government of its failure to establish public stock companies to execute vital development projects.
On the second issue, the proponents accused the government of violating the law and Constitution for giving state properties to certain individuals or companies. They cited as an example the decision of the Kuwait Municipality to grant state-owned land in Abu Fateera, measuring 620,000 square meters, to an undisclosed company for its industrial and vocational activities. They also accused the Municipality and the Municipal Council of wasting public funds when it granted a state property to an investor.

On the violations of Zain, they slammed the government for neglecting its duties, particularly its failure to protect the interests of the nation, which owns 27.618 per cent of the company’s shares. They questioned the exorbitant bonus given to the CEO of the company, indicating this is wastage of public funcs.
On violations on the environmental compensation, the proponents claimed the government did not comply with regulations on payment of compensation to fix the environmental damage caused by the Iraqi invasion, addition to its failure to curb the rising pollution levels in the country.

In the meantime, State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Ali Rashid confirmed the government will deal with the grilling motion against the prime minister and all the grilling requests in accordance with the law and Constitution.