Cabinet expected to submit resignation Monday

Source: 
Arab Times online
Publication date: 
Oct 26 2017

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 26: MP Faisal Al-Kandari said he went to the Speaker’s office on Thursday to present his interpellation against the oil minister, but the Speaker informed him that there was no need for that because the government will not attend the next session. Al-Kandari said, “We all know that the government has resigned and will submit its resignation officially on Monday. Consequently, there is no point in submitting the interpellation request.”

He clarified that he is not after winning or flexing of muscles through submission of the grilling request as he intends to call for reform and correcting mistakes, adding he will wait until Monday before taking the next step.

He went on to say he will continue pushing for reform in the oil sector, whether the incumbent minister returns to his post or another minister is appointed in his place. Meanwhile, the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee elected MP Hamad Al-Harshani as chairman and Mohamed Al-Huwailah as rapporteur. Besides Al-Harshani and Al- Huwailah, the committee consists of MPs Ali Al-Daqbasi, Salah Khorshid and Faraj Al-Arbeed. Al-Daqbasi was the committee chairman in the previous session.

On another issue, MP Khalid Mohammed Al-Otaibi said the current political situation entails that the government is now reaping what it sowed in the last session of poor performance, postponement of deliberations on issues concerning citizens, and failure to hold accountable the erring ministers despite the repeated comments of MPs on the poor performance of most of ministers. He said there are many important bills in the agenda of the legislature so if the government intends to submit its resignation, it must take into consideration the time factor and expedite procedures for the sessions to resume. “We will not allow the wastage of more time at the expense of proposals and urgent issues concerning the people of Kuwait,” he concluded.

Furthermore, MP Mohammed Al- Dalal claimed the government’s disobedience to the Parliament in terms of adopting laws in the interest of the people and its poor performance are the major causes of rifts between the two authorities. Sources revealed that several lawmakers have informed the government about their objection to restoring five incumbent ministers in their current portfolios or reshuffling them to other ministries.

The ministers include Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and acting Minister of Information Sheikh Mohammed Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Mohammed Al- Khalid Al-Sabah, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and State Minister for Economic Affairs Hind Al-Sabeeh, Minister of Oil, Electricity and Water Essam Al-Marzouq, and Minister of Health Dr Jamal Al-Harbi.

By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff

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