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 Arabia Reiterates its Support to Lebanon, Syria and Their People

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Reiterates its Support to Lebanon, Syria and Their People

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi government underscored on Tuesday the Kingdom’s support to Lebanon and Syria and their people and efforts to help them reclaim their natural position in their Arab and international fold.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in Riyadh.

The cabinet reviewed the visits carried out by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah to Lebanon and Syria last week.

Crown Prince Mohammed briefed the ministers on the telephone talks he held with US President Donald Trump and the meeting he held with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Discussions focused on developing relations between their countries and on regional and international developments.

The cabinet hoped that the establishment of the Saudi-Italian Strategic Partnership Council will boost bilateral communication and cooperation at all levels, ultimately achieving common interests and benefits.

The cabinet praised the participation of the Kingdom's delegation in the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, which highlighted the ongoing advancements in fulfilling the objectives of the Kingdom Vision 2030, as well as the initiatives and contributions that are reshaping the global economic landscape, fostering transformational innovation, and unleashing human potential.

Moreover, the cabinet deemed the announcement that the Kingdom will host the World Economic Forum’s global meeting on a regular basis as an affirmation of its leadership as a global hub for international dialogue, highlighting its role in shaping the global development agenda and bolstering multilateral action to achieve prosperity for all.