Manama: A Kuwaiti court on Thursday rejected a case to suspend the call to hold parliamentary elections next month.
The court explained that it had no jurisdiction over the issue raised by Sa'adoon Hammad, a former lawmaker and a current candidate.
Sa'adoon had said that the election of a new parliament on February 2 should not be allowed to proceed, arguing that the dissolution of the outgoing national assembly was unconstitutional. Kuwait's Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah on December 6 dissolved parliament on the recommendation of the government that resigned on November 26.
At the time of the dissolution, only the prime minister has been replaced while the ministers were tasked with running urgent matters of the state. Experts were divided over the constitutionality of the dissolution call.
Those who opposed it said that the government was an interim cabinet that had no right to push for the dissolution of the parliament.
However, those supporting the move said that it was constitutional, arguing that the government, regardless of its formation, was in place and could make decisions. Around 400,000 Kuwaitis are expected to cast their ballots for the new 50-seat parliament.
