Commission pulls 46 poll candidates – Disqualifications open to appeal

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KUWAIT CITY, Nov 1: The Electoral Commission for National Assembly Elections on Tuesday disqualified 46 parliamentary hopefuls including former MPs Safah Al-Hashem, Abdul Hameed Dashti and Mohammed Al-Juwaiel as well as Badir Al-Dahoum, Sheikh Malik Hammud Al- Sabah, Hani Hussein and Municipal Council member Manei Al-Ajmi

According to parliamentary sources, the disqualified candidates have the right to file a petition in court against the decision and request for reinstatement of candidacy. Sources said the electoral commission, under the chairmanship of First Public Lawyer at the Public Prosecution Sultan Bujarwa, submitted the list of disqualified candidates to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Mohammed Al-Khalid.

Reasons for disqualification include issuance of criminal ruling against them, health condition, failure to correct their status and loss of integrity. Sources disclosed 30 candidates were disqualified for failure to meet certain conditions like Sheikh Malik Al-Sabah, indicating the explanatory note of the Constitution prohibits ruling family members from contesting the parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile, Al-Ajmi is one of the candidates disqualified for failure to complete the requirements after filing their candidacy and some were disqualified due to lack of integrity — a condition which the higher court considers basic and must be fulfilled by all candidates.

Dashti, Al-Hashem, Al-Juwaiel, Al-Dahoum and Hassan were disqualified due to court rulings issued against them, whereas 16 others were disqualified as per Article 20 of the Elections Law which stipulates that anyone who wants to contest the elections must file their candidacy through a police station.

Talking about the decision, Al- Hashem revealed she received a phone call from the Electoral Department asking her to receive a letter on the cancellation of her candidacy for the upcoming elections without telling her the reason. She then went to the department to receive the letter.

Also, Al-Dahoum unveiled his plan to file a fast-track case at the Administrative Court against the disqualification decision in order to oblige the Ministry of Interior to reinstate his candidacy immediately.

On the other hand, the Appeals Court withheld the government’s petition against the decision to allow Dashti’s son to file his candidacy on his behalf.

During the hearing, the government’s lawyer argued the candidate must personally register and fill up the application to ensure he can read and write, stressing that it is not permissible to file the candidacy by proxy.

By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff

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