12 December 2010
KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah will face an interpellation motion that will be initiated by the opposition bloc in the Parliament today, as long as the motion complies with constitutional regulations. The Cabinet has begun coordinating with parliamentarians with the aim of garnering maximum support. Meanwhile, the opposition bloc has announced that no further public rallies will be held.
[HH the PM] has assured us on his commitment to the law and Constitution," an official close to the premier said, referring to his willingness to face the motion and address the incident in which special forces violently dispersed the crowd that has gathered outside the diwaniya of MP Jamaan Al-Harbash on Wednesday night. Several citizens including lawmakers were injured. A seminar was hosted during the event, where anti-government MPs discussed the aftermath of lifting the immunity of MP Dr Faisal Al-Mi
slem as per the Public Prosecution Department's request.
The Interior Ministry explained that special forces were issued orders to ban any public gathering, in accordance with the laws that restrict the holding of seminars indoors. The same official questioned the motives behind the grilling motion -as forwarded by a coalition of the Popular Action, Development and Reform, and National Action Blocs - being filed against the premier, instead of the interior minister. He further indicated that "if some MPs are pushing for the dissolution of the Parliament, they s
hould know that HH the Prime Minister is not taking the same route.
The Cabinet is trying to quiet the political situation in the country following last Wednesday's clashes, according to officials who indicated that ministers are holding hurried consultations with MPs to prevent majority support from deviating to the grilling motion initiators . Meanwhile, officials noted that some pro-cabinet MPs criticized the way that the Interior Ministry treated citizens and MPs during the clash, which placed them under intense scrutiny. This incident gave the opposition, "a way out
that they could never have dreamt of.
The Cabinet can understand if pro-cabinet MPs support the grilling motion, but voting for a non-cooperation motion will result in more instability. At the same time, it has been reported that the Cabinet has been focusing on maintaining the support of Salafist MPs Khalid Al-Sultan and Ali Al-Omair, as well as MP Mohammad Al-Mutair. Their support of the interpellation motion could threaten the Cabinet's chances and force them to change strategies, reported Al-Qabas.
According to the same officials , the Cabinet's strategy calls for the pro-cabinet MPs to be classified into two: One that objects the interpellation motion and the other that supports it while votes against the no-cooperation motion. "Either way, the Cabinet is confident as long as the [no-cooperation motion] signees don't exceed 20," official added.
These developments resulted while members of the opposition coalition group announced that "seminars will not be held until the interpellation motion is presented. At least three other seminars were held within the confines of the law." This announcement was made by MP Jamaan Al-Harbash in a press statement. He explained that the decision was made "in order to protect the safety of citizens following the incidents that happened during [Wednesday's] seminar.
Based on this decision, a seminar which was scheduled to be held today (Sunday) at the diwaniya of MP Mubarak Al-Waalan was canceled, according to Development and Reform Bloc member MP Dr Waleed Al-Tabtabae, reported Al-Rai. In a press statement, he stated that, "the Cabinet is more likely to resign instead of facing the interpellation.
Meanwhile, the National Action Bloc(NAB) member Saleh Al-Mullah urged the Cabinet to "resign if they aren't capable of facing the grilling motion," criticizing the act of "involving security services in politics," referring to the press conference in which the Interior Ministry's senior officials explained the events that led to the incident.
KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah will face an interpellation motion that will be initiated by the opposition bloc in the Parliament today, as long as the motion complies with constitutional regulations. The Cabinet has begun coordinating with parliamentarians with the aim of garnering maximum support. Meanwhile, the opposition bloc has announced that no further public rallies will be held.
[HH the PM] has assured us on his commitment to the law and Constitution," an official close to the premier said, referring to his willingness to face the motion and address the incident in which special forces violently dispersed the crowd that has gathered outside the diwaniya of MP Jamaan Al-Harbash on Wednesday night. Several citizens including lawmakers were injured. A seminar was hosted during the event, where anti-government MPs discussed the aftermath of lifting the immunity of MP Dr Faisal Al-Mi
slem as per the Public Prosecution Department's request.
The Interior Ministry explained that special forces were issued orders to ban any public gathering, in accordance with the laws that restrict the holding of seminars indoors. The same official questioned the motives behind the grilling motion -as forwarded by a coalition of the Popular Action, Development and Reform, and National Action Blocs - being filed against the premier, instead of the interior minister. He further indicated that "if some MPs are pushing for the dissolution of the Parliament, they s
hould know that HH the Prime Minister is not taking the same route.
The Cabinet is trying to quiet the political situation in the country following last Wednesday's clashes, according to officials who indicated that ministers are holding hurried consultations with MPs to prevent majority support from deviating to the grilling motion initiators . Meanwhile, officials noted that some pro-cabinet MPs criticized the way that the Interior Ministry treated citizens and MPs during the clash, which placed them under intense scrutiny. This incident gave the opposition, "a way out
that they could never have dreamt of.
The Cabinet can understand if pro-cabinet MPs support the grilling motion, but voting for a non-cooperation motion will result in more instability. At the same time, it has been reported that the Cabinet has been focusing on maintaining the support of Salafist MPs Khalid Al-Sultan and Ali Al-Omair, as well as MP Mohammad Al-Mutair. Their support of the interpellation motion could threaten the Cabinet's chances and force them to change strategies, reported Al-Qabas.
According to the same officials , the Cabinet's strategy calls for the pro-cabinet MPs to be classified into two: One that objects the interpellation motion and the other that supports it while votes against the no-cooperation motion. "Either way, the Cabinet is confident as long as the [no-cooperation motion] signees don't exceed 20," official added.
These developments resulted while members of the opposition coalition group announced that "seminars will not be held until the interpellation motion is presented. At least three other seminars were held within the confines of the law." This announcement was made by MP Jamaan Al-Harbash in a press statement. He explained that the decision was made "in order to protect the safety of citizens following the incidents that happened during [Wednesday's] seminar.
Based on this decision, a seminar which was scheduled to be held today (Sunday) at the diwaniya of MP Mubarak Al-Waalan was canceled, according to Development and Reform Bloc member MP Dr Waleed Al-Tabtabae, reported Al-Rai. In a press statement, he stated that, "the Cabinet is more likely to resign instead of facing the interpellation.
Meanwhile, the National Action Bloc(NAB) member Saleh Al-Mullah urged the Cabinet to "resign if they aren't capable of facing the grilling motion," criticizing the act of "involving security services in politics," referring to the press conference in which the Interior Ministry's senior officials explained the events that led to the incident.
© Kuwait Times 2010
