Time for decisive action

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IT seems there is no solution to the political crisis in Kuwait as long as the status quo continues in this flopping manner, taking into consideration the executive decisions and absolute submissiveness to the will of parliamentarians keen on serving electoral interests.

It is illogical to have 21 governments in a span of 27 years. Some of them did not even last for more than two months, while the ministerial data throughout the last quarter of the century rumbled in empty circles considering the promises to implement reforms and achieve economic prosperity. This is in addition to the fact that the country continues to move backwards in terms of projects, administration and the economy.

This situation is unprecedented compared to all other democracies in the world. The dominant notion in Kuwait’s democracy reflects disability, procrastination, accusation and quota system in everything. Without going too far, here is Bahrain whose democracy is similar to that of Kuwait.

The difference between the democracies of these two Gulf countries is that Bahrain has two parliamentary chambers and firm governments which play their roles in accordance with the Constitution, without any transgression or violation.

After the formation of the government in Kuwait, it does not take long before a parliamentarian announces his intention to grill this or that minister. Sometimes, it happens even before the targeted minister takes oath. Perhaps, the shape of the minister did not please certain representatives of the public – something unheard of in the history of the world.

In this case, we do not exaggerate if we say our democracy is a comical and awkward drama, up to the extent of nausea. This makes one wonder whether the situation has reached the level of toying with the destiny of the country and its people or if what is happening manifests our reality.

It is unfair and ungrateful to say that Kuwait did not give birth to statesmen and women who have the ability to manage the country in a manner that suits the aspirations of its people.

In fact, it is shameful if the situation remains the same – unstable executive steps. If political exercise continues to be at the mercy of the parliamentarians’ mood, no government will stand and no minister will dare go to his office to execute his mandate. Under such circumstances, corruption will be the principle and noble work will be the exception.

About 100 ministers or more have been replaced or reshuffled in the past quarter of the century. Some of them were struck with resignation even before knowing the employees in their ministries, just because this MP or that influential person did not like something about this or that minister.

Amidst all this, we also see major incursion of MPs in the remaining authorities, yet the government does nothing.

MPs have repeatedly attempted to put themselves above the authorities. In fact, some of them are now striving to put this and that MP above accountability, even those involved in explicit offenses. They demanded for amendment of the Constitutional Court Law because it served justice to the Constitution and people of this country.

It is a principle in countries of institutions that changes in government or ministries happen only within narrow limits or under compelling circumstances. In Kuwait, the longest serving government stayed for one and a half year only.

This means the country is witnessing a political crisis which cannot be solved through restructuring, reshuffling and resignation of ministers. Instead, decisive action must be taken to make the Constitution the rule and to prevent parliamentary dictatorship from controlling the fate of the country and its people.

By Ahmed Al-Jarallah

Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times

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