Amid signs of a political crisis in Kuwait - the first in the new era - the government on Wednesday boycotted a parliamentary session in protest against what is believed to be an implicit insult by one of the deputies while discussing the response to the Emiri’s speech.
After Speaker of the National Assembly Ahmed Al-Saadoun asked to delete the intervention of MP Abdul Karim Al-Kandari from the minutes of the session, a majority of 44 deputies voted against Saadoun’s request, a move that was seen by those demanding the annulment of the intervention as an insult to the Emir, which violates the constitution.
In objection to the National Assembly’s action, the government boycotted a parliamentary session on Wednesday, which forced Saadoun to lift the session due to the ministers’ absence.
Kuwaiti political analyst Dr. Ayed Manna told Asharq Al-Awsat that the government’s withdrawal from Wednesday’s session had “clear negative indicators.”
“It is inconceivable that the government that has just been formed and took the constitutional oath before the National Assembly will be absent,” Manna said, stressing that the Assembly was still discussing the response to the Amiri speech.
Asked whether Article 106 of the Constitution could be activated, giving the head of state the right to suspend Parliament for a month, Manna said: “Resorting to Article 106 of the Constitution, which stipulates postponing sessions for a month, is a valid possibility, and may anticipate an expected crisis as well, if Parliament does not reduce its pressure in certain directions.”
He continued: “I believe that the relationship between the two authorities may be marred by some turmoil, and therefore it must be built on a common vision and program,” stressing that government positions on some parliamentary demands, such as increasing salaries and loans and similar popular requests should not constitute a justification for paralyzing Parliament’s work.
