New Assembly term to open amid high tension

HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah today opens the new parliamentary term with a speech expected to urge cooperation between MPs and the government whose relations have badly deteriorated over an alleged corruption scandal and a constitutional court ruling. The new eight-month term is tipped by observers to be the "hottest" ever, with the government and opposition locked in a bitter dispute over a host of issues topped by a multi-million-dinar graft scandal in which almost a third of the 50 -member National Assembly is believed to be involved. The new term is also expected to witness a large number of grillings, mainly against Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who has already survived three no-confidence votes after becoming the first Kuwaiti premier to be questioned in the Assembly. Sheikh Nasser has already faced three grillings and opposition MPs have filed 11 requests to quiz him over a variety of allegations including corruption and squandering of public funds. Two grilling were filed against the premier in the past t erm with one referred to the constitutional court and the other was not debated because of time limitations as it was filed just a few days before the end of the term. The two are expected to be debated if the Assembly decides they are not in violation of last week's constitutional court ruling. Opposition MPs plan to file a third grilling linked to the corruption scandal and allegations he transferred public funds to several personal accounts abroad, an accusations that was categorically denied by his office and which forced former foreign minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Sabah to step down. Although Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah was appointed as a new foreign minister, the issue is not expected to die as opposition MPs plan to reveal more highly classified documents as evidence for the violations. Outspoken opposition MP Musallam Al-Barrak said yesterday that about 18 MPs plan to boycott the elections of the Assembly panels which will be held immediately after the opening ceremony. Al-Barrak also called on the new foreign minister to answer questions he sent to his predecessor about the money transfers and warned that failure to do so and any attempt to divert attention will result in severe actions. The lawmaker also warned the new foreign minister of being used by the prime minister to cover up wh at he called the money transfer scandal. The government is also expected to fight a major battle with the opposition over the controversial ruling of the constitutional court regarding grillings against the prime minister. The ruling said that the prime minister cannot be grilled for issues under the jurisdiction of his Cabinet ministers and he should be asked to reply to general government policies. As usual, the ruling was understood differently by the government and opposition camps. The government called on the opposition to abide by the "obl igatory" ruling and grill the prime minister on issues he is directly responsible for, while the opposition said the ruling is not mandatory, otherwise it would amount to an amendment of the 1962 constitution. Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi has said that a decision on implementing the ruling will be made by the assembly on Nov 1 when the issue will come up for debate. MPs Khaled Al-Sultan and Adel Al-Saraawi strongly warned that the constitutional court ruling should not be used to kill grillings against the prime minister, saying this amounted to amending the constitution. Sultan warned that the Assembly can reach to any decision, but such decisions cannot breach the constitution. He also said that Kuwait w ill continue to suffer from political instability and the people could reach the boiling point "unless the prime minister and the government are changed". The government could eventually force its viewpoint because it has the majority in the Assembly. Besides the votes of Shiite and many tribal MPs, the government also has the votes of the 15 Cabinet ministers who can vote on such issues. At the opening ceremony, besides the Amir's speech, the speaker and the prime minister will deliver speeches expected to focus on the current state of affairs in the country and future projects. After that, the Assembly will elect its secretary and observer in addition to a number of permanent and temporary committees like the legal and legislative, economic and finance, interior and and defense panels and many others. If opposition MPs boycott the panel elections, it will be a certain sweep by pro-governm ent lawmakers who will control the main panels which will greatly help the government. In addition, the Assembly is expected to vote on two controversial laws that were rejected by the government which stipulate raising the salaries of Kuwaiti teachers and monthly stipends for Kuwaiti university students.