Al-Ghanim lauds Constitution – Poll coverage specified

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KUWAIT CITY, Nov 10: Director of the Election Registration Center Colonel Salah Al-Shatti has denied the rumor that the list of candidates disqualified from the 2020 parliamentary elections is ready. Al-Shatti made the statement after the publication of news quoting sources that the list is ready.

These sources even affirmed that the concerned committee made the list based on the criminal record and reputation of candidates as per the verdict of the Cassation Court.

These sources added the files of candidates, who were disqualified from the previous elections, were reviewed in order to select those who received a rehabilitation verdict and allow them to contest the upcoming elections. Al-Shatti, on the other hand, said the concerned committee is still reviewing the applications that the candidates submitted during the registration period.

In a related development, the Ministry of Information issued a decision on organizing the media coverage of the upcoming elections in accordance with Elections Law No. 35/1962, Kuwait Municipality Law No. 5/2005, Printing and Publishing Law No. 3/2006, Audiovisual Law No. 61/2007 and Decree No. 78/2012 which regulates the media coverage of elections.

The decision stipulates the following:

■ Coverage of primaries is totally forbidden.

■ Media and all kinds of pressure groups must distinguish between news and information on one hand, and promotion and advertisement on the other hand.

■ The media coverage must be void of offensive or defamatory statements about candidates or anyone.

■ The media coverage should neither be paid nor subject to any concession or privileges from the candidates.

■ The publication of opinion polls or questionnaires on the elections must be attributed to the executing institutions.

■ Opinion polls or questionnaires about elections must be conducted by authorized or licensed institutions only.

■ The publication or broadcasting of opinion poll results and the press statements of candidates are totally forbidden a day before the election and on Election Day.

Furthermore, former National Assembly Speaker released a press statement on the 58th anniversary of the issuance of Kuwait’s Constitution on Nov 11, 1962.

Al-Ghanim said the Constitution marked the beginning of the democratic era, in addition to enhancing the stability and sustainability of the State of Kuwait amidst the regional and global changes. He added the democratic era stabilized the exceptional relationship between the leadership and the public, calling to mind the outstanding role played by the pioneer generation – the founding fathers – in issuing the Constitution.

Meanwhile, Fourth Constituency candidate Anwar Al-Fekr recently released a press statement in which he accused the government of trying to tear the social fabric by instigating disputes. He pointed out that in the almost 400-year history of Kuwait, its people had been living in perfect harmony until the oil era started and the greed of the executive authority intensified.

He also stressed the importance of issuing a new law on citizenship in order to protect national identity. Fourth Constituency candidate Dowaim Al-Muwaizri said the government has no economic reform plan, warning that the absence of a clear vision will lead to a choking crisis due to the dwindling public treasury and increasing budget deficit. He added the coronavirus crisis unveiled the facts; hence, the need to adopt a serious strategy to implement economic reform.

Moreover, former MP Osama Al-Shaheen criticized the decision of the National Bureau for Academic Accreditation and Education Quality on the non-accreditation of certificates that some Kuwaiti employees obtained from foreign academic institutions after they were found to have continued reporting for work during the period of study.

Al-Shaheen said he called Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Saud Al-Harbi about the issue and the latter promised to revise the decision. He pointed out the issue is supposed to be under the jurisdiction of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), indicating the decision will negatively affect Kuwaiti employees who recently reached an agreement with the cultural offices of other countries in Kuwait. He argued that the accreditation regulations aim to ensure the certificates are authentic and that they are

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