Al-Wasmi details steps to prevent elections rigging; ‘Respect pillars of democracy’

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KUWAIT CITY, April 26 : 2020 National Assembly Office member Obaid Al-Wasmi has submitted a request for the office to immediately issue a decision covering the following:

● Prepare the ballots and tally of votes for the 2022 parliamentary elections which was nullified by the Constitutional Court;
● Invite concerned individuals, institutions, local and international media, and civil society organizations to recount and double check the votes in public — at the National Assembly Theater on the following days: First Constituency – April 27, Second Constituency – April 29, Third Constituency – April 30, Fourth Constituency – May 1 and Fifth Constituency – May 2;
● The National Assembly Secretariat General should invite the concerned individuals, including the candidates and their representatives, as well as representatives of foreign embassies and public profit organizations, to witness the opening of ballots and recounting of votes.
● The National Assembly Secretariat General should announce the results within a couple of days from the end of recounting votes. He explained the request is aimed at ensuring the results are not manipulated; in addition to identifying anomalies and reasons, if any, then the necessary measures must be taken to prevent recurrence of such problems in the future.

The National Assembly Office will meet on Thursday to discuss the request of Al-Wasmi. In addition, Al-Wasmi thinks the current situation is unconstitutional; stressing the citizens did not contribute to any of the steps taken so far — nullification of 2022 Parliament and dissolution or suspension of the 2020 Parliament. He urged every citizen to respect the remaining parts of the pillars of democracy. He said he forwarded queries to the concerned minister on the alleged violations during the 2022 parliamentary elections, but he did not receive any response.

“The government did not respond to the alleged manipulation of election results. It is illogical that one ballot consisted of 300 votes while the total number of votes counted for all candidates was 400. His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al- Ahmad Al-Sabah travelled for tourism purposes on Election Day — an indication that something was wrong. We have to overcome the current crisis, but not according to the vision of His Highness the Prime Minister who has been unwilling to attend parliamentary sessions; while ignoring the verdict of the Constitutional Court.
He put himself above the law and the people. He must reveal the actual number of voters in the 2022 elections. Although the Elections Department at the Ministry of Interior consists of judges, it is not classified as a judicial institution. The role of these judges is limited to announcing the results, whether the figures are right or wrong.
The Public Prosecution must take action, as election rigging is considered a coup, considering it changes the election results.” He continued saying that “the government does not respect the Parliament and caused suspension of parliamentary work for almost four months; even if the Constitution stipulates that only His Highness the Amir has the authority to suspend the Parliament for one month. It is unacceptable to punish citizens for one person’s unwillingness to occupy such a vital position. If Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf is not interested in the position, he should have declined.”

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