Kuwait delays poll law changes

Long-awaited political reforms in Kuwait were put on the back burner yesterday as parliament voted to delay a decision on amending the electoral law until the next legislative term starting in October this year.

Parliament voted 35 in favour against 19 with six abstentions to put off plans to reduce the country's 25 election districts to ten after the government chan-ged its mind and supported the delay.

The government immediately came under fire from MPs backing the change, who accused it of opposing reforms and supporting illegal practices in general polls. The special session, a continuation of last yesterday's session, was supposed to have voted on one of three bills, all calling for the reduction of constituencies in a bid to eliminate illegal practices in elections like vote-buying and other forms of corruption.

Two of the bills were submitted by the government which previously said it would vote for either one of the two. It was clear from the onset that the delay will be approved.

Speaker Jassem Al Khorafi accepted a new bill calling for the reduction in constituencies but proposing a different voter distribution. This has prompted the interior and defence committee to use its legal right of asking to withdraw its report to consider the new bill. Parliament approved its request which amounts to delaying the issue until next October.

Kuwaiti parliament is scheduled to go on the four-month summer recess at the end of this month.

The vote angered MPs backing the change who were hoping that one of the bills will be passed.

Liberal MP Ali Al Rashed blasted the government, describing the vote for the delay as a "farce" and walked out of the session in protest. This action has only confirmed our doubts that the government had never been interested in reforms" Al Rashed said before leaving the House.

Later he told reporters that a number of MPs would file a request to hold a special session next Saturday to discuss the issue.

Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah defended the government action as a step to protect national unity.

"The most important thing for the government is unity in parliament and in the society. Newspapers described us as conspirators and a mafia, but we will vote with the delay," Sheikh Sabah said. Later, he told reporters the government will not present any more proposals to amend the election law.

The MPs backing the change considered the amendment as a first step towards political reforms in Kuwait.

Islamist MP Faisal Al Muslim said the government has backed down on its promises and has disappointed the aspirations of the Kuwaitis.

– The author is an Arab journalist based in Kuwait