‘Respect Constitution, nation’s will’

KUWAIT CITY, April 6: The press conference that National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim, Deputy Speaker Ahmed Al-Shuhoumi and Chairman of parliamentary Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee MP Obaid Al-Wasmi has drawn various reactions. MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri and members of the 2022 Assembly Shuaib Shaaban, Falah Al- Hajri, Soud Al-Asfour, Abdullah Fehad and Hamad Al- Medlej issued a statement; pointing out that the current situation is the fruit of the alliance of corruption and lack of respect for the Constitution in the last 60 years.

They said the frequent attempts to control the legislative authority and violate the Constitution caused tremendous damage to Kuwait, hindered efforts to implement economic and political reforms, and led to the backwardness of Kuwait in all fields. They stressed that the only way to get out of this dilemma is for the government to ally with the people, cut ties with corrupt parties, and respect the Constitution and the nation’s will. 2022 Assembly member Jenan Bu Shehri stressed the need to adhere to the Constitution, protect State institutions and refrain from adopting political views on personal grounds. She said the latter could bring about temporary profits, but they could be harmful in the long run.

Another 2022 Assembly member, Hamad Al Obaid, stated that the refusal of HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah from taking the constitutional oath before a legislature, which lost legitimacy, is an important step toward the right path.

Victory
MP Khalid Al-Otaibi asserted that the country will achieve real victory only by eliminating the ‘deep State’ and its allies. He pointed out the deep State is like the cancer cells in a healthy body. MP Abdulkareem Al-Kandari said the parties in the battle have been unmasked, stressing the issue is not just about the reinstatement of the 2020 Assembly. He explained the issue is about some individuals who struggle to continue in their posts despite causing damage to the State.

He added that using the judicial authority, Kuwait Chamber for Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and a failed legislature as tools for unscrupulous acts is tantamount to staging a coup against the State of the 1962 Constitution. Former MP Adel Al-Damkhi addressed HH the Prime Minister: “The people of Kuwait support you today in your historic position in confronting the State of corruption. Remain steadfast and do not take any step backwards. It is your fate to confront the State of corruption and deal with the damages.”

Meanwhile, MP Osama Al-Menawer asked Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Barrak Al-Sheetan to provide him with a list of decisions issued since Sept 29, 2020 till date to grant exceptional salary or pension to senior officials, ministers and lawmakers; including the names of beneficiaries and amount of the salary or pension. He wants to know the reasons behind granting exceptional salaries to ministers and lawmakers. Al-Menawer also requested for a list of decisions issued from Jan 1, 2006 till date to grant exceptional pension to undersecretaries and assistant undersecretaries after being referred for retirement or completing 30 years in service. He asked the minister to verify the alleged allocation of exceptional salaries and pensions for ministers and lawmakers amounting to almost KD75 million in the budget for fiscal 2020/2021. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff