KUWAIT CITY, April 16: MP-elect Saleh Ashour has clarified that he will moderate the inaugural session of the National Assembly as the second oldest newly elected MP, since the Secretariat General of the Assembly informed him that MP-elect Ahmed Al-Saadoun, who is the oldest, has declined to moderate the session because he will run for the speaker election. Ashour added there will be no session on Wednesday given the Amiri decree on postponing the inauguration of the Assembly until May 14. Nevertheless, he stated that the MPs-elect are invited to a session on April 21 — the official working day after the two-week grace period for holding the opening session as per Article 87 of the Constitution. He explained this session is aimed at preventing any Constitutional violation. Meanwhile, some MPs-elect reacted to the Amiri decree on the appointment of Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as Prime Minister.

MP-elect Mohammad Al-Raqeeb asserted that HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has absolute right to appoint the prime minister in accordance with the Constitution. He said cooperation with the new government will be based on the selection of ministers and commitment of the executive authority to improve the citizens’ standard of living, as well as the implementation of economic and political reforms MP-elect Mohammad Al-Dahoum urged HH the Prime Minister to choose ministers wisely, increase the citizens’ salaries, respond to public demands, address the employment issue and control prices. On the other hand, in response to the denial of the official spokesperson of the government, Dr. Amer Al-Ajmi, regarding the revelation of MP-elect Shuaib Al-Muwiaizri that the Council of Ministers decided to increase fuel prices by 25 percent starting June 1, Al-Muwaizri posted a copy of the executive decision about the aforementioned increase.

Dr. Al-Ajmi explained on Tuesday that the letter regarding a supposed hike in fuel prices has been returned by the Ministry of Finance to the Ministerial Committee for Economic Affairs for further study. In a brief statement, Dr. Al-Ajmi told KUNA that the cabinet postponed discussions on the issue of raising the price of fuel for further deliberation. Al-Ajmi added that the letter addressed to the Ministry of Finance was recalled on the same day, which was directed to the ministry, on April 8, and it was returned to the Ministerial Committee for Economic Affairs for further study.

By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff and Agencies