KUWAIT CITY, Jan 18: Speaker of the National Assembly Ahmed Al-Saadoun received in his office Thursday His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. Al-Saadoun congratulated His Highness the Prime Minister on the formation of the new government, expressing his best wishes for success in serving the nation and its citizens. Both sides confirmed their commitment to cooperation between the National Assembly and the government, aiming to achieve security, and stability, and fulfill the aspirations of the Kuwaiti people.

Cooperation between the executive and legislative authorities would meet the leadership’s guidelines and help achieve the aspirations of the Kuwaiti people, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah affirmed on Thursday. Speaking to the press after meeting with National Assembly Speaker Ahmed Al-Saadoun, His Highness the Prime Minister stressed that the government was willing to extend its cooperation with the parliament in line with the constitution, which called for cooperation between the two sides.

Such cooperation would benefit citizens and residents and would help better address regional and international shifting challenges, he added. He went on to say that the government would be addressing challenges facing the economy and development, reviewing legislations and policies, which would enable the government to restructure and achieve reformation.

National Assembly Speaker Ahmed Al-Saadoun on Thursday opened the first meeting of the Parliamentary Caucus in the second round of the 17th legislative term. During the meeting, MP Hamad Al-Matar was elected undersecretary of the Caucus through a voice vote; in addition to MP Muhammad Al-Mahan as Secretary and MP Hamad Al-Obaid as Treasurer. MPs Fahd bin Jamea, Shuaib Shaaban and Hani Shams were elected as members of the Executive Committee of the Caucus

The Assembly endorsed the authorization of the Executive Committee to approve the final accounts of the Caucus for the period from Jan 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023; as well as its budget that began on Jan 1, 2024 and will end on May 31, 2025; and the reports of conferences and meetings that took place during the period from July 2023 to Dec 2023. Meanwhile, MP Khaled Al-Mounis has affirmed his commitment to push for the approval of bills and proposals scheduled for the current session, in agreement with the previous government.

Addressing His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Al-Mounis said: “If you or your government have something better than these previously agreed-upon bills, we will welcome them, and we will support their approval. If not, you and the government must cooperate with us and adhere to our specific legislative schedule for approving bills included in the parliamentary agenda. We all hope to achieve progress for the nation and prosperity for the citizens. We remind you that we came bearing popular demands and entitlements that we see as enforceable rights, and we no longer have the luxury of waiting for their approval.

Therefore, by your position as Prime Minister, and by our political position as representatives of the will of the nation, we are committed to their approval.” He also stressed the need to put combating corruption on top of the new government’s priorities. In addition, MP Marzouq Al- Ghanim called on His Highness the Prime Minister to combat corruption, expose it and consider it one of his top priorities, and to start with the actions of the Prime Minister and his office, especially the financial before the administrative ones.

By Abdul Rahman Al-Shammari
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff and Agencies