Assembly convenes amid Amiri call for concord

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KUWAIT CITY, Oct 25: Kuwait National Assembly, or Parliament, begins its 2nd term of the 16th legislative session on Tuesday following His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s call on legislative and executive authorities to hold national dialogue towards political concord in line with the constitution. His Highness the Amir is scheduled to inaugurate the session with speeches followed by Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Then the house will elect the standing committees and interim committees if latters proposed by parliament members. Article 85 of the Constitution states that “The National Assembly shall have an annual session of not less than eight months. The said session may not be prorogued before the budget is approved.”

Minister of Amiri Diwan Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Sabah announced, on September 29, that His Highness the Amir instructed the executive and legislative authorities to open a national dialogue aiming to prepare the ground for effective cooperation. His Highness the Amir urged both sides to pool their efforts and resources towards putting aside their differences, and resolving all problems in serving the interests of the citizens and the dear homeland, he said. He looks forward to the dialogue realizing its aspired objectives in pushing forward the march of democratic action, which is a source of pride for everybody, in the framework of the constitution and the national principles, the minister noted. Following the dialogue, His Highness the Amir assigned last Wednesday the Speaker, the Prime Minister and Head of the Judicial Council to propose regulations and conditions of amnesty on some Kuwaiti convicts to pave way for amnesty decree.

Dialogue
Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah said a national dialogue between the legislative and executive authorities was designed to achieve political stability and cooperation between the two authorities in line with Article 50 of the Constitution, which separates, but urged cooperation among, authorities. The legislative and executive authorities, said Sheikh Mohammad, appreciated His Highness the Amir’s call and expressed hope dialogue end political standoff in a drive to achieve the principle of cooperation. He said His Highness the Amir took note of the appeal by around 40 parliament members who reaffirmed keenness on cooperation and political stability, and in line with what His Highness the Amir’s advisors conveyed to him, His Highness the Amir decided to use this constitutional right in line with Article 75.

Article 75 states: The Amir may, by decree, grant a pardon or commute a sentence. However, general amnesty shall not be granted except by a law and then only in respect of offences committed prior to the proposal of the amnesty.” On the other hand, MP Ahmed Mutei Al-Azmi submitted a proposal to exempt citizens, who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, from the requirement to present negative PCR test result before departure and upon arrival in the country. Meanwhile, MP Muhammad Al- Hewaila asked Minister of Oil and Higher Education Dr Muhammad Al-Fares why the Kuwaitis working in the private oil sector are not given the same privileges granted to their counterparts in the public oil sector. He wants to know if some articles in the oil sector related laws are applicable only to Kuwaitis working in the public oil sector, number of cases filed by Kuwaiti workers since 2015 in which the final verdicts are in their favor, details of every case including the reason for filing it, and measures taken regarding every case.

Queries
MP Khalid Al-Anzi also forwarded queries to Al-Fares regarding the academic qualifications of the director of the Legal Affairs Department at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET). He requested for copies of the director’s certificates, including the master’s and doctorate degrees. He asked about the director’s research works, report on his seniority as member of the teaching staff at PAAET compared to his colleagues, if the director obtained master’s degree while occupying his current position, date of obtaining the master’s degree and the university where he graduated. In another development, MP Muhannad Al-Sayer said the 31 MPs Bloc is solid and coherent; denying the allegation that there have been disagreements among members. He pointed out the bloc is not a political party, so it is not necessary for all members to adopt the same position on every issue.

Moreover, MP Musaed Al-Ardi confirmed withdrawing the grilling motion he filed against His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid. He clarified the motion focuses on one issue only; that is, amnesty. Since HH the Amir took the initiative to grant amnesty to those convicted in political cases, the lawmaker decided to withdraw the grilling motion. He was quick to add though that he is against protecting the premier and ministers from grilling. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff and Agencies

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