HH the Amir’s courageous measures rescued us from parliamentary tyranny
This news has been read 1126 times!
IT IS necessary to be fair in examining the current reality that Kuwait is experiencing, and how things have changed for the better.
Nonetheless, more is needed in order to overcome the accumulations of the past stage, which lasted for about 40 years, and then start again.
If there is a will and a decision, the people will support and rejoice over the achievements, no matter how simple they may be at first; because they will accumulate over time and become large, benefiting the nation and the people, especially after many years of decline and attempts to undermine the Constitution according to theories that prevent any progress in the country.
They portrayed the Constitution as if it is Divine Scripture, while the parliamentarians and those who benefited from the constitutional loopholes imposed restrictions that only exist in their inner circles or serve their personal or parties’ interests. Therefore, they sought to impose laws that limit the powers of the ruler.
In 2013, when Egypt got rid of the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood, some parliamentarians supporting that group demanded the imposition of a law preventing His Highness the Amir from donating more than $5 million as per the agreement of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to help Egypt get out of the crisis. Note that such amount is a loan, not a gift.
In another year, when the press began to shed light on the disgraceful practices of the parliamentarians and their exploitation of the mission entrusted to them by the people just to serve their personal interests, they proposed a law prohibiting criticism of the National Assembly and the parliamentarians. They demanded for amendment of the Constitution and imprisoned anyone who did so for five years. They were seeking for parliamentary tyranny that no other country in the world had ever witnessed. This means they wanted to stop the hand of the ruling house, and then seize the powers of HH the Amir and the executive authority.
Since that day, a saying has been repeated in the diwaniyas and the press: “There are 51 amirs in Kuwait — one at Seif Palace and the rest in the National Assembly.” This was a catalyst for utter chaos and bigger corruption, which almost threatened the fate of the country. Thus, the people started to ask the leadership and those who have the solution to take decisive steps.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah had repeatedly warned the National Assembly and the Council of Ministers against taking the wrong path and to not exploit influence for personal goals, but they continued doing so. This prompted the last treatment, which is cauterization. This time it was done with the wisdom of His Highness the Amir who treated the source of the defect through the suspension of seven articles of the Constitution related to the National Assembly – a move welcomed by the people who were burned by the fire of parliamentary practices devoid of logic.
On the other hand, these measures did not limit freedom of expression and opinion. The press is still playing its role in revealing any defect in State facilities. Rather, it has become more free and social media has not been subjected to any harassment; except with regard to violating the Amiri entity and the powers of His Highness the Amir, which are punishable by the Constitution and the law.
Yes, the measures taken by His Highness the Amir stopped the encroachment on the powers of other authorities and prevented the dominance of one component over another.
It is true that there are no parties in Kuwait, but the parliamentarians’ practices were more fatal to the national fabric than the partisan chaos. They fanned the flames of tribalism and sectarianism, which began to raise their flags above the flag of Kuwait. For those who have not realized this, it means threatening the fate of the homeland.
Today, we have started to witness the fruits of the courageous and resolute Amiri measures. Institutions have begun to organize their work so that Kuwait truly returns to being the ‘Pearl of the Gulf’, and even a jewel in the crown of the Arab world.
By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
This news has been read 1126 times!
