KUWAIT : HH the Amir reappointed Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah on Tuesday to pick ministers for the Gulf Arab state's new Cabinet in another sign that little would change following a Parliament election. Islamists and tribesmen consolidated their hold on Kuwait's Parliament in Saturday's poll, dashing prospects of change after long-running rows paralysed political life and delayed crucial economic reforms. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, had dissolved the assembly in March to end the standoff with deputies. But many of the same faces are back in Parliament and political sources said they expected Sheikh Nasser, a member of the ruling family, to reappoint many of the same ministers.
The next Cabinet will be the fourth headed by 68-year-old Sheikh Nasser, a nephew of the Amir, since 2006. Some lawmakers had already warned against the reappointment of Sheikh Nasser and threatened to resume their campaign of questioning ministers, which had overshadowed legislative efforts in the last assembly. "Lawmakers will practise their constitutional responsibilities if a new prime minister is not appointed," Islamist MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaie had told Al-Watan Arabic newspaper Monday before he seemed to relent Tuesday. With a deputy already threatening to question the interior minister, political sources expect him to be replaced.
The prime minister has always been a member of the ruling Al-Sabah family. Key portfolios such as defence, interior and foreign affairs are also held by members of the ruling family. The Amir, who has the last word in politics, is yet to approve members of the government. Sheikh Sabah, who was on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, met three former speakers earlier to consult them on the Cabinet, KUNA said. The prime minister must form the new Cabinet by June 1, the deadline by which the new assembly must convene. The Cabinet had formally resigned on Monday, as required by the constitution after the elections.
Political sources also expect a second woman to be appointed to the government and a new oil minister to be named. The major Opec exporter has been without an oil minister since Badr Al-Humaidhi resigned just days after his appointment in November, bowing to pressure from hostile deputies. The last permanent oil minister quit in July. Acting Oil Minister Mohammad Al-Olaim will not be reappointed, the Al-Jarida daily said in an unsourced report. The new Cabinet should represent the whole nation and obtain the support of majority in Parliament, Al-Tabtabaei told the Arab Times Tuesday after the issuance of an Amiri decree on the appointment of Sheikh Nasser Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as head of the new government.
When asked why he relented on his demand for the appointment of a new prime minister, Al-Tabtabaei clarified he merely expressed his opinion in his previous statements. He refuted allegations that he is trying to instigate conflicts or halt political discourse. "We sought seats in the Parliament not to create political tensions but to work on development, reforms and rooting out corruption," he added. On the priorities of the prime minister in appointing members of the new government, Al-Tabtabaei said the new ministers should win the support of the legislative majority the Islamists. "The new government should serve the nation, which elected its legislative representatives earlier this week with the Islamists winning most of the seats," Al-Tabtabaei concluded.
In another development, the Court of Appeals Tuesday overturned the verdict of a lower court and sentenced MP Mohamed Hayef Al-Mutairi to one month in jail and ordered him to pay KD 5001 to former Minister of Justice Abdullah Al-Maatouq as temporary compensation for defaming him during a meeting in his diwaniya, which was published in Al-Seyassah in June 2006. The court, however, upheld the verdict of the lower court, which ordered the editor-in-chief of Al-Seyassah daily to pay a fine of KD 3000 and KD 5,001 as temporary compensation for the plaintiff, for allowing publication of the article.
In its verdict, the court changed the charge against Al-Mutairi from publishing an offensive statement against Al-Maatouq to insulting the plaintiff in front of others, which is a misdemeanor under the Criminal Law, not the Publications Law. According to Item 209 of the Criminal Law, a person is condemned and sentenced to two years in prison as maximum penalty and fined 2000 rupees or any one of the two if he/she insults a person in front of others. Al-Mutairi's lawyers Attorneys Adel Abdul Hadi and Mohamed Menwir told the Arab Times they will submit a petition against the verdict on Wednesday. They said the verdict will not affect their client as a member of Parliament as it is not a case on betrayal of trust.
Attorney Labeed Abdal, on the other hand, said the verdict could be appealed through a petition submitted to the Court of Cassation. He added the court will then set an urgent session to hear the petition and issue its verdict. The session was presided by Judge Faisal Khuraibet. Meanwhile, sources clarified that Sheikh Nasser has yet to start discussions on the formation of the new government but he will soon meet the political blocs to tackle the issue. In related developments, sources said Al-Salafi Group on Monday asked their elected MPs to communicate with Kuwait's political leaders in an alleged attempt to stop the appointment of Sheikh Nasser as prime minister.
Sources added Salafist MP Khaled Al-Sultan will preside over the first Parliamentary session since he is the oldest member of the National Assembly but this doesn't mean he will not run for the speakership. Sources said Jassem Al-Khorafi and Ahmad Al-Saadoun, who confirmed their decision to contest the speakership, excused themselves from heading the session.
On the other hand, MP Abdullah Rae Al-Fahma reiterated his plans to grill Interior Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Khaled Al-Sabah in case he gets appointed to the same post in the next government. Al-Fahma accused the Minister of causing tension between the executive and legislative authorities, saying, his reappointment to the new government will only lead to more problems. He also stressed the need to hold Sheikh Jaber accountable for the mistakes he committed in implementing the anti-primaries law, especially when the security authorities insulted the dignity of the people while raiding their houses. He also called on the prime minister to form a strong government. MP Abdallah Al-Barghash asked the prime minister to choose the ministers based on their qualifications. He said the premier should "put the right man in the right position as the next era requires cooperation between the legislative and executive authorities." He also urged the government to stop putting pressure on him to change his ideologies and called for prioritizing public welfare over personal interests.
MP Mohammed Al-Huwaila emphasized the importance of "pumping fresh blood into the government, which should work based on a clear development vision." He added the government and Parliament should remain committed to their roles to achieve national development. Meanwhile, the Transparency Society highlighted a number of surprising revelations in its latest report which, sources say, might spoil the tactics of some MPs. In a report issued Tuesday, the society claimed to have recorded a number of electoral irregularities and violations. Vote-buying was allegedly rampant on elections day, disclosing negotiations took place in houses and moving vehicles. The Higher Commission for Election Affairs has recorded some of these violations, the society noted in its report.
By Dahlia Kholaif, Moamen Al-Masri
© Arab Times 2008
