KUWAIT CITY, Feb 4: The 14th legislative term of the National Assembly will witness a race between pro-government and tribal Islamist MPs for the positions of Speaker of Parliament and Deputy Speaker.
Opposition veteran MP Ahmed Al-Saadoun formally announced he will contest for the position of speaker after pro-government MPs Mohammed Al-Saqr and Ali Al-Rashid declared the same intention. Furthermore, Salafi MP Khaled Al-Sultan stated that he will contest for deputy speaker chair and reports indicate that the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM) and tribal alliances will each nominate one of their own for the same.

Secretary General of the National Assembly Allam Al-Kandari stated Saturday that the 14th legislative round’s opening session will most likely be on Feb. 14 after speaking with the Amiri Diwan. The interim government, headed by HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, is expected to resign this week, as early as Sunday according to sources, to pave way for the new government formation before the start of the legislative season.

Meanwhile, controversial independent MP Mohammed Al-Juwaihel expressed his hopes that the seating arrangement of the parliament’s Abdullah Al-Salem Hall will be organized alphabetically so that he is able “to sit next to his colleagues Musallam Al-Barrak and Mohammed Hayef Al-Mutairi.” It can be recalled that Al-Juwaihel’s electoral tent was burned down by angry Al-Mutair tribesmen after he allegedly made defamatory statements against the tribe.

Meanwhile, in his first formal statement to the press, Islamist MP Osama Al-Shaheen said the Kuwaiti people have turned a new page for the National Assembly to fight corruption and ensure reform. “We must be serious in achieving development and ensuring stability,” he said.