Gulf | Kuwait
Kuwait drops plans to restrict election rallies
Kuwait has shelved plans to restrict rallies ahead of next month's elections after a storm of protest from all major political groups and civil rights activists in the state.
- Reuters
- Published: 20:46 April 15, 2008
Kuwait : Kuwait has shelved plans to restrict rallies ahead of next month's elections after a storm of protest from all major political groups and civil rights activists in the state.
Kuwait's ruler dissolved parliament last month and called new elections on May 17 to end a prolonged standoff with the government which has stalled key economic reforms.
To help enforce a decade-old ban on traditional informal tribal primaries ahead of the polls, the cabinet last week approved a draft law restricting political rallies without written permission from authorities, sparking a public outcry.
Kuwait wants to loosen the grip of tribes on parliament.
All major political groups condemned the law as blow to Kuwait's parliamentary system which is unusual in a region dominated by ruling families.
Police repeatedly clashed with tribesmen defying the ban on primaries in the past few days when raiding so-called diwaniyas, traditional gathering points where rallies and primaries are often held.
The government said now it would refer the bill to the next parliament for approval first instead of issuing it with immediate effect as initially planned, according to a cabinet statement carried by the state news agency late on Monday.
"The draft decree will be referred to the coming parliament in the form of a draft law," said Cabinet Affairs Minister Faisal Al Hajji.
The government is the sole legislative authority until a new assembly convenes after the elections. Kuwaiti deputies have a long history of challenging the government and scrapping government bills.
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