KUWAIT CITY, Feb 12: The government formation is going through a crisis as Islamist blocs are refusing Cabinet posts. This means that the government will be formed out of minority alliances in the parliament, said Salafist MP Abdullatif Al-Omairi.

However, the lawmaker, along with MPs Mohammed Al-Kandari and Dr Ali Al-Omair, denied rumors that the Salafist alliance will be joining the cabinet. Salafist colleague Ammar Al-Ajmi further denied he has accepted a ministerial post.

HH the Prime Minister, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, has been holding consultations with the various Parliament blocs and alliances in an effort to form a Cabinet comprised of ministers “from among the people” as requested by opposition lawmakers. So far, however, all blocs rejected participation in the new Cabinet. The new legislative authority must be formed before National
Assembly’s opening session Feb 15.

MP Faisal Al-Muslem further revealed after a meeting held with 22 Islamist and opposition MPs Sunday that Sheikh Jaber Al-Sabah was to meet with the Development and Reform Bloc “to hear the bloc’s views on the government formation.”

He said the MPs discussed their priorities in the next Assembly, first of which are “the anti-corruption, conflict of interest, protection of whistleblowers and financial disclosure laws. Also among the MPs’ ambitions, Al-Muslem added, is the liberation of the judiciary authority and the Audit Bureau from other authorities.

Meanwhile, Al-Omairi revealed via his Twitter account Sunday that he and Salafist colleague Mohammed Al-Kandari met with HH the Prime Minister on Friday evening for consultation prior to the Cabinet formation. He said that Sheikh Jaber Al-Sabah “desired the cooperation of Parliament blocs and their participation in the government.”

“We welcomed this initiative provided the participation is by all blocs not only one,” he stated, adding that the Salafist assured their support of any reform steps “in the government or outside it.” Al-Omairi further added they assured the Prime Minister that they will stand against corruption.

“We explained that the Parliament majority seeks calm and has a sincere desire for accomplishment and will not be dragged by some who want to sabotage the National Assembly,” he tweeted. “We explained that the political scene calls for optimism due to the presence of a new Prime Minister, a new Speaker of Parliament and a new parliament majority.”

Furthermore, Talal Al-Koshti, who is the director of ‘Itijahat’ Center for research and studies, an independent think-tank that analysis the National Assembly, condemned in a press statement the refusal of Parliament blocs to be part of the new Cabinet. He said that the rejection is an abdication of national responsibility.

“The forces of corruption and the agitators are happy with the opposition’s refusal to participate in the government because it will provide an opportunity to pass their personal interests,” he said. 
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance and the Kuwait Democratic Forum issued a joint statement Sunday condemning the Islamist pursuit to amend Article 2 of the Constitution. They said that “returned Islamist MPs have revealed another face of political Islam and are using religion as a means to strike at the civil democratic system. This time they announced the amendment of Article 2 of the Constitution to use it as a bargaining tool with others.”

The democratic groups expressed its refusal of any constitutional amendments, specifically Article 2, unless they provide for more freedoms. “We do not accept the amendment of Article 2 because it will result in the diminishment of the civil state which is based on religious pluralism. It will result in the replacement of the democratic state with the religious state, to serve the narrow and personal interests of religious movements,” the statement said.

The amendment of the article also is a blatant violation of Article 29 which states that “all people are equal in human dignity and in public rights and duties before the law, without distinction to race, origin, language, or religion. Personal liberty is guaranteed,” they continued.

Article 6 also states that “The System of Government in Kuwait shall be democratic, under which sovereignty resides in the people, the source of all powers. Sovereignty shall be exercised in the manner specified in this Constitution.”

“The amendment will also threaten the Royal Family and the rule that is favored by the Kuwaiti people for centuries...It is the Islamist’s personal agenda and aspiration to replace the state of constitutional legislation with one of religious edicts,” the statement warned.

The democratic alliance and forum further condemned what they described as the “political bargaining” which occurred between political Islamists and the Popular Action Bloc so that its representative acquires the position of Speaker of Parliament. “The PAB had never directly addressed the issue in the National Assembly or through its election campaigns,” they said.