KUWAIT CITY, Aug 18: The Majority Bloc in the annulled National Assembly has launched a scathing attack against certain personalities to conceal the fact that its popularity has started to dwindle due to the inability of its members to settle their differences on a number of issues, including the proposed amendments to the electoral constituency and voting systems, reports Al-Seyassah daily quoting sources.

Sources revealed the bloc members usually discuss their demands in the diwaniya of MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun but they have yet to settle their disagreements on several issues, such as the proposed changes in the Election Law and their electoral programs. Sources asserted the bloc members may lose in the upcoming elections if they fail to unify their stand on these issues. Sources said some bloc members have called for boycotting the next elections while others have expressed objection to this call.
Meanwhile, sources disclosed some 2009 Parliament members, who also belong to the bloc, continue to receive financial privileges amounting to KD 5,510 even if they have refused to attend any legislative session. Sources confirmed the lawmakers still enjoy other privileges like cars, mobile phones, drivers, petrol and newspapers despite the suspension of the legislative sessions due to lack quorum.
On the other hand, Al-Jarida daily has quoted MP Faisal Al-Mislem as saying that the government wants to empty the Constitution of its contents. He cited as a case in point the previous statement of Minister of Justice and State Minister for Legal Affairs Jamal Al-Shihab who underscored the need for wisdom in keeping the 2009 Parliament until the Constitutional Court issues its verdict on the constituencies issue.
MP Mubarak Al-Waalan asserted the executive authority has yet to realize the dangerous repercussions of its attempt to manipulate the constitutional rights of the people.

MP Ali Al-Omair pointed out the government has the right to refer the issue to the Constitutional Court and it has insisted on using its constitutional tools despite threats from some lawmakers.
MP Ali Al-Deqbasi claimed there are hidden fingers trying to destroy the structure of the Kuwaiti society by instigating conflicts between various groups, while Osama Al-Shaheen has accused the government of pushing for the amendment of the constituency system to prevent the formation of a majority group in the Parliament. 

In the meantime, Constitutional expert Hesham Al-Saleh warns the government against ignoring political opinions and constitutional views relating to the issues under discussion in the local political arena, reports Al-Shahed daily.

According to Al-Saleh, there’s need to issue a decree of necessity at the moment, as several doubts are cast over the former decree of necessity on the 25-constituency system, which obviously could not fulfill justice.

He wondered why the citizens of fourth and fifth constituencies have stood against the government’s decision to refer the constituencies’ law to the Constitutional Court, given that their constituency will benefit a lot from the amendment.

He expected the citizens of second and third constituencies to protest, as they are more likely than any other constituency to be affected if the constituencies are modified. “We should accept the verdict of the Constitutional Court, whether it’s against or for the interests of some constituencies”, he noted.
On the salaries of the lawmakers of 2009 Parliament and their secretaries, Al-Saleh said it amounts to nearly one million dinars per month. However, they have no right to collect those salaries, since they are not attending any parliamentary sessions.

It is worth mentioning more than 750 secretaries are still performing their duty.