Amiri ‘nod’ to government resignation … no sessions

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Twenty MP asset disclosures overdue

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 18: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah accepted Monday resignation of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and his government. His Highness the Amir, according to a decree he has signed, instructed the ministers to run the “urgent affairs” in their ministries until formation of a new government.

National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim announced the cancellation of parliamentary sessions slated for Tuesday and Wednesday in view of the decision of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al Jaber Al-Sabah to accept the resignation of the government and as per the parliamentary traditions.

Al-Ghanim said he will be at the session hall on Tuesday to adjourn the session until the new government is formed. He also confirmed receiving a letter from former Prime Minister HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled on the acceptance of the government’s resignation, in addition to a letter from former Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Mubarak Al-Harees stating the government will not attend Tuesday’s session as its resignation has been accepted.

Meanwhile, Al-Ghanim disclosed 20 MPs have not submitted their financial disclosures to Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) until now, urging them to do so before the deadline on Feb 4, 2021. In another development, MPs Osama Al-Shaheen, Muhammad Barrak Al-Mutair, Thamer Al- Suwait, Abdulaziz Al-Saqaabi, Hamad Al-Matar and Saleh Zeiab Al-Mutairi submitted a bill to amend Public Tenders Law No. 49/2916 in order to limit bidding for public tenders valued at KD5 million and above to companies registered at the Capital Markets Authority (CMA).

The bill is aimed at boosting the economy by supporting small Kuwaiti investors who are trading in Boursa Kuwait. Al-Shaheen pointed out the average value of public tenders is almost KD1.360 billion annually, indicating the bill aims to maximize the impact of such a large amount on society and the citizens.

Furthermore, MP Mubarak Al-Hajraf issued a press statement indicating that the cooperation of pro-reform MPs with the next government depends on the latter’s attitude. He said the previous government proved that it was against the citizens’ aspirations as clearly manifested in its position during the election of the National Assembly speaker when it shattered the hope of 42 MPs to change the speaker.

He affirmed the commitment of pro-reform MPs to push for the ratification of urgent bills such as granting general amnesty, and amendment of the law on assigning the Administrative Circuit at the First Instance Court to issue verdicts on lawsuits about granting and withdrawing citizenship and laws on intensifying efforts to combat corruption.

He said their priorities include reforming the judicial authority, pointing out that a number of patriotic citizens were convicted of storming the Assembly building and attacking unidentified securitymen even if they merely conveyed a message to the authorities on the need to combat corruption which already reached the Assembly in the form of political bribery.

He went on say that granting general amnesty is not a threat to ruling system, stressing the real threats are corruption and embezzlement of public funds. He added the citizens unanimously pledged allegiance to HH the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in 2006 and His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in 2020. He is afraid this will no longer be possible in the future due to weak methods of combating corruption and constitutional violations.

By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff and Agencies

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