Kuwait: National Assembly to Grill Finance Minister

File image used for illustrative purpose. Kuwait parliament meets in Kuwait City. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
File image used for illustrative purpose. Kuwait parliament meets in Kuwait City. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
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Kuwait: National Assembly to Grill Finance Minister

File image used for illustrative purpose. Kuwait parliament meets in Kuwait City. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
File image used for illustrative purpose. Kuwait parliament meets in Kuwait City. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee

A motion filed by Kuwaiti lawmakers Riyad al-Adasani and Bader al-Mulla to grill Finance Minister Nayef al-Hajraf will be placed on the agenda of a parliamentary session on June 11, announced Acting Speaker of the National Assembly Issa al-Kanderi.

Kanderi told reporters Tuesday that after receiving the deputies’ request, he followed all the procedural measures to inform Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah and the minister in question.

Adasani and Mulla filed the motion to grill the Finance Minister on five major issues - lack of control over budget which prevented reforms and closing accounts, adopting unwise investment policies and harming the rights of pensioners through the mismanagement of social security funds.

In addition, they want to question the Minister on mismanagement of Kuwait Investment Authority, the country’s sovereign wealth fund, which has suffered losses of billions of dollars, and his refusal to answer previous questions by Adasani and Mulla. 

Hajraf asserted last week that he was informed of the grilling by the deputy Speaker, adding that the questioning is an essential constitutional right for lawmakers.

"I'm not afraid of anything concerning the interpellation motion as we enjoy freedom,” he said.

He stressed that he will fully cooperate with the MPs. 



Saudi Govt Reiterates Support for Efforts that Bolster Regional, Int’l Peace and Security

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt Reiterates Support for Efforts that Bolster Regional, Int’l Peace and Security

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi government reiterated on Tuesday its keenness on bolstering regional and international security and peace.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in Riyadh.

The government underscored the Kingdom’s support for efforts to reach political solutions to regional and global conflicts. It also stressed its backing to every effort that could boost cooperation to confront international challenges.

King Salman thanked the leaders of friendly and brotherly countries for their messages of congratulations on the occasion of Saudi Arabia’s National Day, which falls on September 23.

The ministers hailed the Royal speech delivered at the inauguration of the first year of the ninth session of the Shura Council, which outlined the nation's priorities, goals, and achievements, and reiterated the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to promoting peace and prosperity in the world.

The ministers expressed gratitude to King Salman for his Royal Order approving the King Salman Foundation bylaws. They commended the foundation, which is a reflection of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' commitment to building sustainable societies and investing in human development, and an extension of his longstanding tradition of charitable and humanitarian deeds.

The cabinet welcomed the United Nations General Assembly's adoption of a resolution calling for an end to the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories.

It stressed the need to take concrete and credible steps to achieve a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in line with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international resolutions.

The cabinet hoped the Pact for the Future, adopted by the UN summit, will mark a significant turning point in multilateral action.

The Kingdom believes that the pact can help establish a modern and equitable international system that fosters rapid progress toward sustainable development goals, addresses the needs of all nations, bridges the digital gap, and supports emerging economies to strengthen the global financial system.

In addition, the cabinet deemed the Kingdom's successful bid for the presidency of the International Coral Reef Initiative as a testament to its international recognition and standing in the field of marine environment protection, biodiversity, and ecosystem conservation.

Moreover, the cabinet expressed pride in the Kingdom's impressive results in the UN indicators concerning e-government development and tourism. They further strengthen the Kingdom's leading position and highlight the significant progress it has made in various fields, conforming with the goals of Vision 2030.