Oh Deputy Amir, the region is boiling while Kuwait wallows in corruption … We need rescue resolutions

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KUWAIT is experiencing a sequence of explosions of corruption scandals as if the entire country is walking on a minefield.

For instance, the State Security Department’s video clips that were leaked on social media and the act itself signal a dangerous precedent. Besides this, there is the wave of interpellations that have never been witnessed before in such a manner, the floundering of the government in its decisions for curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues, the primaries that are happening openly, and the MPs’ electoral struggles using government tools.

On the other hand, the region is boiling, terrorist threats are multiplying, the drums of war are beating, and there are talks about settlements being worked out by will or by force.

Meanwhile, the train of normalization of ties with Israel has set off in the Gulf region, and it will definitely pass through Kuwait sooner or later.

Also, the economic conditions locally, regionally and globally are worsening.

The world’s current situation can be summarized as chaotic, such that there is no doubt it will have huge repercussions.

Therefore, there is a great need for taking bold and decisive resolutions which will leave no room for pleasing anyone. This is because the waves are very high, and the wind of the hurricane has begun to strike. However, no significant moves have been taken in Kuwait, making it seem as though the situation does not require any action at all. This constitutes a certain barrier to the negative consequences of all that is happening, and the subsequent developments.

The government is keen to please the National Assembly in order for it to pass the Public Debt Law, which is basically an urgent national need to amend the sovereign classification and launch the wheel of economic projects, as well as to escape from the dilemma of financial deterioration that brought to us the policy of flatteries and looking the other way even if the matter is at the expense of the future of this country.

There is no doubt that everyone is aware of the sensitivity of the current stage. We no longer have the luxury of time to play under the moving shade of democracy, which has been depleted of its content in the recent years.

The Parliament has abandoned its basic duty and has devoted itself to sideshows. The government is falling short of managing the current health crisis. Even though most of the countries have succeeded in facing this crisis with the least amount of losses, the bill in Kuwait is getting heavier to the extent that closing the country and its economy has become a norm and a source of euphoria for the top health official.

The time has come for a change. A strong governing executive authority which is managed by resolute political leadership is essential, so that we do not face the day when we end up crying over the opportunities that were lost by flirting with the shadow of democracy.

When it comes to democracy, we are no better than France, Egypt, the United States of America and other countries, which declared a state of emergency when they sensed the storm was about to make a landfall.

In fact, some countries, where democracy is considered as a staple food as opposed to a luxury like in Kuwait, suspended the implementation of the constitution for a while in order to address the aftermath of internal political conflicts, and to fortify themselves in the face of external events.

These countries acted according to what the reality dictates, and not as per personal interests and tendencies.

We in Kuwait tried to suspend the Constitution twice. The first time was aimed at rectifying the navigation course of the country, even though the governments that were present at the time were not capable of envisaging the future of the country in order to set appropriate developmental plans. The second time was when the government failed the test of confrontation, and helped in exposing the internal situation, which was what Saddam Hussein’s regime took as a pretext to implement its evil plan and invade the country.

Indeed, Kuwait today needs to suspend the Constitution for probably a year or two, and bring about a legal revolution that will destroy all the wear and tear caused by the mentality of parliamentary exploits, open up the country to investors, and take advantage of the regional and international opportunities to get out of the stalemate in terms of the new Gulf trend.

All this will not be achieved in the presence of a National Assembly that lacks the simplest principles of national work, as it is entangled in twisted games of securing jobs and fighting over bits and pieces of project tenders.

What the current situation actually needs is for the political leadership to devote itself through the executive authority to remedy the situation, even if the matter calls for painful surgeries. This is because ridding Kuwait of disease is much more important than pleasing anyone.

Because His Highness the Amir is currently abroad for treatment – May Allah grant him recovery and safe return to his people – we place our hopes on His Highness the Deputy Amir and the trustworthy Crown Prince – May Almighty Allah protect him – to rescue the country out of the impasse with firm, bold and decisive resolutions.

By Ahmed Al-Jarallah

Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times

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