Three Kuwaiti MPs quit over 'unconstitutional' decision

Source: 
Arabian Business
Publication date: 
May 01 2014

Three Kuwaiti MPs have declared they will quit after the National Assembly rejected their application to hold a public grilling of the prime minister, Kuwait Times reported.

 

Parliamentary questioning of the prime minister is viewed in Kuwait as MPs’ greatest power in a semi-democracy where majority of Cabinet members are appointed by the Emir rather than elected.

 

MPs regularly apply to “grill” ministers on various issues.

 

Abdulkarim Al Kandari, Riyadh Al Adasani and Hussein Quwaiaan had applied to question Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah.

 

On Wednesday, the MPs said they would quit in protest against the “unconstitutional” decision to reject their application, Kuwait Times said.

 

In November a similar grilling application was partially rejected, with only some of the proposed issues allowed to be raised.

 

Adasani said he was “not honoured” to be a member of the National Assembly if such a constitutional right was denied.

 

The men immediately left the chamber, although their resignations will not be accepted until they are made in writing.

 

 

 

MP Safa Al Hashem also reportedly said she was considering quitting in solidarity and would consult her constituents.

 

It is unclear whether the resignations, if made official, would lead to a by-election. Kuwait’s parliamentary system has been marred by a lack of cooperation between opposition MPs and the government.

 

There have been at least six elections in recent years after several assemblies were sacked or elections were annulled.

 

Source/Fuente: http://www.arabianbusiness.com/three-kuwaiti-mps-quit-over-unconstitutio...