Kuwait’s National Assembly on Tuesday voted in favor of the government's request to refer the questioning of Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah to the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee.
The Prime Minister is under investigation for alleged mismanagement over damage caused by heavy downpour earlier this month.
The PM made a request to transfer his grilling to the parliamentary committee so that it would determine the motion’s constitutional basis and validity, in line with Kuwait’s Constitution and the Emir’s guidelines.
Kuwait's Minister of Public Works, Hussam al-Roumi, has resigned because of the huge damage to public property caused by heavy rains and floods, reported state news agency KUNA.
Speaker Marzouq al-Ghanim announced Tuesday the Assembly’s approval to refer the motion, submitted by MP Shuaib al-Muwaizri, to the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee.
His request was approved by 41 votes against 20, while two members abstained from voting.
Muwaizri submitted the grilling motion against the Prime Minister earlier this month over the "government bodies' failure in disasters and crises management."
The prime minister began his statement at Tuesday's regular parliamentary session by telling the Assembly that the questioning request was not in line with the Constitution because it failed to name any minister responsible for the damage caused by the rains, and only accused the premier of direct responsibility.
Any lawmaker making a grilling request should present evidence on a specific case, he explained.
Sheikh Jaber affirmed his respect for MPs' rights to submit an inquiry request, provided that the motion complies with the Constitution, the National Assembly’s by-laws and rules set by the Constitutional Court.
