AMIRI DECREE ASSIGNS SHEIKH AHMAD NAWAF LEAD CABINET

KUWAIT CITY, June 14: The newly elected MPs, except Marzouq Al-Ghanim, attended the meeting held in the National Assembly building on Tuesday. They then issued a joint statement affirming their commitment to the legislative plan to focus on the priority bills for the first year of the 17th parliamentary term, as well as the priorities for the following years that will be specified by the seven-member committee formed earlier for this purpose.

According to the statement, the priorities for the first year include political and economic bills; such as the proposed establishment of the Higher Commission for Elections, amending the Constitutional Court Law, addressing the housing issue and health insurance for housewives. The nullified legislature approved some of the bills in the first reading; while others were approved in the first and second readings, but they were returned to the government for various reasons.

The statement pointed out that their main aim is to foil attempts to drag the legislature into disputes and nonsensical arguments, away from the citizens’ interests. They reaffirmed their commitment to ratify laws to combat corruption and ensure sustainable development in cooperation with the government. MP-elect Fayez Al-Jomhour urged Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and acting Minister of Defense Sheikh Talal Khalid Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to look into the demand of the military personnel at the National Guard to make them equal with their colleagues in the Ministry of Interior and Kuwait Army in terms of promotion.

MP-elect Hamad Al-Matar denied the rumor that he will be appointed as Minister of Education and Higher Education. He emphasized that he has no intention to be part of the next government and he is content with his parliamentary seat. He hopes the structure of the next government will match the election results.

Meanwhile, an Amiri decree was issued on Tuesday evening to appoint His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah as Prime Minister and assign him to form the new Cabinet. Following is the text of the decree: “After reviewing the provisions of the constitution, the Amiri Decree of November 15, 2021, delegating some of the Amir’s constitutions powers to His Highness the Crown Prince; and the Amiri Decree of June 7, 2023, accepting the resignation of His Highness the Prime Minister “We have decided to: “Article I: Appoint His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- Sabah as Prime Minister and assign him to nominate members of the new cabinet pending the issuance of a decree to endorse their positions. “Article II: The Prime Minister has to implement our order and inform the National Assembly. “The decree, which takes immediate effect upon issuance, has to published in the official gazette. “The Crown Prince “Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah “Issued at Al-Seif Palace on June 13, 2023.” By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff and Agencies