KUWAIT CITY, Aug 17: Contacts have been made with a number of MPs of 2009 National Assembly who had failed to attend the two earlier sessions to persuade them to attend the Parliament session to ensure a quorum in the event a new session is called to discuss the budget which was prepared last April.

The parliamentary sources said this will not be the only session but several will follow to discuss one subject - the budget — taking into account that it is difficult to dissolve the Parliament without the budget being approved and to avoid passing the budget through an emergency decree.

The sources added consultations have started in this regard, pointing out it will be difficult for the Parliament to stay closed until the Constitutional Court issues its ruling on the Constituencies Law, “and therefore it was thought to hold sessions of the 2009 Parliament for the budgets, followed by then holidays or parliament recess while waiting for the court ruling after which the Parliament will be dissolved and  there is a call for new parliamentary elections.

On a related issue, MP Faisal Al-Muslim described it a scandal that has exposed the coup on the constitutional order the recent assertion made by the Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs Jamal Al-Shihab that it is logical for the 2009 Parliament to continue its work until the Constitutional Court issues its ruling on the Constituencies Law.

On another issue, MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei said he doesn’t see it a sin for members of the 2009 Parliament to receive their salaries even though they did not attend its meetings or committees, in response to those who see that is wrong for them to receive these salaries, especially because they had announced their resignations and did not submit them officially but continue to enjoy the privileges as MPs.

Tabtabaei argued “Because we are members of the 2009 Parliament, we therefore deserve the salary and though the government’s decision is null and void, the matter remains as it was and we are members of the 2012 National Assemble so we are entitled to the salary in the two situations.”
Earlier, former MP and columnist accused the policy of the opposition majority members of receiving salaries of the 2009 Parliament without attending its meetings and committees, and instead attending rallies at Erada Square.

He added: “The funny thing is that it is the government that pays the salaries of those attending the rally at Erada Square, so where would they find a country like Kuwait and its government?”

Meanwhile, MP Al-Tabtabaei has called for a boycott of the 16th Non-Aligned Movement summit meeting which will be held in the Iranian capital Tehran from Aug 26-31, 2012. He added by this summit the Iranian regime wants to polish its ugly image.

On his Twitter account, Al-Tabtabaei said the Arab leaders, without exception, should boycott the Non-Aligned summit in Tehran because the Iranian regime seeks to regain its lost prestige — a regime whose hands are stained with the blood of the Syrian people.”