Gulf | Kuwait

Kuwait Emir says parliament will complete term

Kuwait's Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah assured a group of Kuwaiti lawmakers on Wednesday that he will not dissolve parliament as a result of its showdown with the government.

  • By Duraid Al Baik, Associate Editor
  • Published: 21:14 November 26, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Tribalism and sectarian divides are ever present in Kuwaiti society which make debating policies very dangerous.
  • Image Credit: Reuters

Dubai: Kuwait's Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah assured a group of Kuwaiti lawmakers on Wednesday that he will not dissolve parliament as a result of its showdown with the government.

"We heard from the Emir that he was keen for democracy and the national assembly and that it should complete its (four-year) term," Speaker Jassem Al Khorafi told reporters after the meeting.

Meanwhile, Nasser Al Abdali, chairman of the Kuwait Society for Developing Democracy, told Gulf News the crisis should encourage the Emir to allow the establishment of political parties and accept a government run by heads of parties rather than a figure from the ruling family.

Al Abdali said he did not see any harm in heated arguments between the cabinet and parliament.

"Such an argument is healthy in any democracy, thus Kuwaitis should acknowledge this kind of culture as part of their endeavour to establish democracy. What is not accepted is the abuse of the right of questioning the government for personal reasons," he said.

While some might question the right of the three lawmakers to probe the prime minister over the performance of his government, what is not accepted is to use the probe as a revenge tool for any personal agendas.

This happens in some deep-rooted democracies, but in Kuwait we should work to purify our system from it," Al Abdali said.

Tribalism and sectarian divides are ever present in Kuwaiti society which make debating policies very dangerous. "Kuwait can easily adopt a two-party system similar to the one in the US with one of them for conservatives and the other for liberal and the election should decide which party is the most popular to lead the nation for a certain number of years," he said.

Al Abdali called on the leadership to take a brave stand that would maintain Kuwait's position as a pioneer among its GCC neighbours with regard to democratic practices.

But he said that leaving the country in the hands of sectarian leaders and clerical figures would benefit no one.

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