KUWAIT CITY, July 5: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Thursday invited Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah — who was caretaker prime minister after his government resigned last Sunday — to form a new government.

Following his appointment as Prime Minister, Sheikh Jaber is expected to begin consultations to form the new government and then submit the names of the new Cabinet to the Amir for approval.

This is the third government which will be formed by Sheikh Jaber since he was first appointed prime minister on Nov 30, 2011 following the resignation of the government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah on Nov 28 of the same year.

Sheikh Jaber becomes the seventh Prime Minister in Kuwait and second since HH the Amir came to power in 2006.

According to reliable sources the new government is not expected to offer many changes because it is being formed to correct certain procedures following the ‘abrupt’ dissolution of the 2009 Parliament.
MP Naji Al-AbdulHadi is expected to take over the portfolio of Minister of Public Works. He will replace Shuaib Al-Muweizri and the post of the Minister of Finance and Minister of Social Affairs and Labor will be given to other ministers.

The sources also expect the government to complete its formation and take the constitutional oath before the Amir on July 15, 2012. Based on this the Speaker of the Parliament Jassem Al-Kharafi will call for a session one week later, maybe on July 22 or July 24, and if there is no quorum the Speaker will have two choices — either to call for a new session on July 31, 2012 or refer the issue immediately to HH the Amir to take appropriate decision.

If the Amir decides to dissolve the Parliament, this should happen at the end of July to clear the way for holding of new elections on Sept 22, 2012, one day before the primary and secondary school students begin the new scholastic year.

Then the opening session of the 14th legislative term is expected to happen on Oct 9, 2012, which is the right time before the Hajj season begins and culmination of Eid holidays.
Meanwhile, to preempt attempts by the government to change the voting system in the next elections, the opposition has announced it will hold seminars every Monday starting from next Monday at the Diwaniya of former MP Osama Al-Munawer.
The announcement came after a meeting Thursday which was held by the opposition at the Diwaniya of former MP Hamad Matar.
Speaking after the meeting head of the opposition MP Ahmed Al-Saadoun stated hidden hands are working to amend the constituency system to help them rig and manipulate the forthcoming elections.
He added, “the majority will not allow the ‘symbols of corruption’ to tamper with the constituencies in the absence of the Parliament.”
He said the 2009 Parliament was disgraced politically, popularly and morally and therefore it must not hold any session. The issue here is not related to persons, but to the citizens, “and we will call on civil society institutions to play a role.”
He explained the majority will hold its meeting at the Diwaniya of former MP Osama Al-Munawer followed by another meeting at the Diwaniya of former MP Mohammed Al-Kandari. He added, “We will continue with our meetings every Monday to abort attempts to change the constituency system.”
He called on the citizens to stop attempts at tampering the current constituency system which would amount to a coup against the Constitution. He asserted the facts began to emerge following the so-called deposits and remittances scandal and diesel smuggling.
He added the parliamentary committees investigating this scandal had unearthed facts supported by documents.
He added, the non-profit organizations such as the Kuwait Transparency Society and the Kuwait Human Rights Society should play a role in monitoring the forthcoming elections, “and we will confront any attempts to tamper with the constituencies with all our strength and within constitutional and political framework,” he said.
He stressed the majority still sticks to their ‘35 candidates’ in each of the elections districts. This came after their performance, commitment and their determination to unify their positions.
On the other hand, MP Musallam Al-Barrak stated the majority bloc member will focus on — quick dissolution of the 2009 Parliament, calls for elections, resist attempts to amend the election constituencies or change the voting system.
In a press statement Al-Barrak explained, “the majority will focus on the speedy issuance of the decree to dissolve the 2009 Parliament and allowing the Prime Minister and ministers to take the oath of office before the shameful and disgraceful 2009 Parliament which was toppled by the people.
Member of opposition MP Abdulrahman Anjari stressed the parliamentary democracy and the formation of a government by the elected majority is how the Kuwaiti Constitution is translated.
He noted the parliamentary majority has presented laws related to political reform including laws of authorities, political parties, one constituency system and quota lists. He pointed out this was an effort by the majority to bring in reforms.
He pointed out the competition and prevention of monopoly laws as well as the commercial agencies law was on the agenda of the previous Parliament. He added the Tenders Law was also on the agenda but there were attempts to ‘kill’ it.
Agencies adds:
His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable of congratulation on Thursday to His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on the occasion of his re-appointment in his post.
HH the Crown Prince wished HH the Prime Minister all the best in his mission for the best interest of homeland and people under the wise leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Thursday received a letter from HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah expressing gratitude for re-naming him as Prime Minister.
HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak, in his letter addressed to HH the Amir, expressed deep appreciation to His Highness for re-assigning him for the task vowing to remain faithful for the service of Kuwait and its people.
Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak pledged to the Amir to preserve national accomplishments, re-affirming his robust advocacy of the National Constitution, the democracy and the State of institutions.
The re-named Premier also affirmed keenness on maintaining national unity “and cooperation by all of us for protection of security of our homeland and its promotion among nations of the world,” as well as for sake of preserving internal and external interests for sake of keeping “dear Kuwait an oasis of security and peace, a home for civilization and prosperity under sagacious leadership of Your Highness.” Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak expressed hope for lasting security and stability of the country “under the slogan of Your Highness and guidelines of His Highness the Crown Prince.”