KUWAIT CITY, Feb 27: The Kuwaiti Cabinet on Tuesday approved a draft decree inviting voters to elect National Assembly (parliament) members on April 4, 2024, and referred it to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, said Head of the Local Affairs Sector and Government Spokesman Amer Al-Ajmi.

The spokesman made the statement to KUNA following a Cabinet meeting, presided over by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al- Salem Al-Sabah. According to a government source speaking to Al-Seyassah, the election decree is scheduled to be issued next Sunday, with the candidacy application period opening on March 4. In other news, around 45,000 citizens, who turned 21 years old, have been added to the list of eligible voters as part of preparations for the 2024 National Assembly election. Meanwhile, Sheikh Ali Jaber Al-Ahmad said he did not expect that the citizens would be joyful over the dissolution of the Assembly. He hopes the legislature will be suspended for two years or more to eliminate the negative practices of some lawmakers. He added the future lawmakers must understand the message and be aware that the recent dissolution is the result of the attitude of some MPs who crossed the red lines.

Commenting on the above statement, former MP Badr Sayyar Al-Shemmari pointed out the people’s joy was due to the celebration of the National and Liberation Days. “Regardless of the reasons behind the dissolution of the Assembly, it is a hindrance to the interests of the nation and the citizens. Only the opportunists, beneficiaries of corruption and those who do not believe in democracy are happy over the dissolution. Suspending the Assembly is a wish that cannot be fulfilled under the wise political leadership and as long as the free people are committed to the Constitution,” he asserted.

By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff and Agencies