Due to deviations and violations that threatened national interests, I was compelled to dissolve the previous National Assembly after I had exhausted all means and calls that went unheeded" the Amir said. "Under the circumstances we are passing through and after development wheel has been hindered, the trust of my responsibilities at this delicate stage requires me to intervene at anytime so the interests of the country do not fall hostage to faulty practices and tensions and narrow personal interests" th
e Amir warned.
The Amir also brushed aside objections by many MPs about the new cabinet, insisting that appointing a prime minister and ministers is his exclusive right. "Let everyone know that the appointment of the prime minister and ministers is the exclusive right of the Amir alone in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and that no one is permitted to violate it or interfere in it" he stressed. He recalled that he has repeatedly warned against violating the law and breaching national principles besides
instigating tensions. "Based on my responsibility, we will not allow anyone under any pretext to undermine national interests with regards to security, social, political and economic aspects so that Kuwait remains immune against any chaos, discord or destruction" the Amir said. Many MPs and commentators described the Amir’s speech as one of the strongest at any inauguration assembly.
The Amir said that it was with "sincere national will" that the a future is looked at, a future "where cooperation replaces differences in the relation between the legislative and executive authorities so that we may march on the track that we desire, and developmental projects are not lost in the midst of political strife and crises." He said, "Cooperation is a creative dialogue, hard work toward achieving our aspirations and goals, while differences and arguments are a cause for backwardness." He expre
ssed optimism as to the performance of the new parliament, and hoped that all would exercise wisdom and benefit from the previous experiences and to learn from them, "making Kuwait the balance by which we weigh all that we intend to do, say or carry out.
He said that he was confident that the parliament and government would cooperate and conduct their duties in a "balanced" manner so that no authority would intervene in the prerogatives of the other and a "mutual trust in joint institutional action be born." The Amir also said the government had to place a "comprehensive development plan based on an objective study" in order to accommodate the needs of the nation, such that this may be the reference for action, and having implementation and evaluation mec
hanisms. He also lauded the role played by Kuwaiti women in all fields, adding that "we aspire for a greater and more comprehensive role, with women working hand in hand with their brothers, and actively bearing the responsibilities of development in all fields.
Addressing the media, he said that Kuwait was a model of liberty and democracy, but added that what had been practiced by the media recently "exceeded the framework of responsible freedom and the regulations of professionalism and the requirements of national interest, instigating chaos and tension at times." He called for placing the state’s interests above all other considerations. In his speech, Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah called on MPs to cooperate with the government in ord
er to overcome difficulties that hindered implementing development programs in the past. "We are looking for a new parliamentary era, accompanied with hope and optimism in the ability to overcome all previous obstacles. We are required to make this legislative chapter a model example through which we achieve our ambitions that serve the nation and citizens" Sheikh Nasser said.
He promised to submit his government program before the next term in October and also to submit the strategic five-year plan during the next term, two of the main demands made by MPs. But as soon as ministers and MPs began taking the oath to officially become members in the assembly, nine Islamist and tribal MPs walked out of the chamber in protest against the make-up of the cabinet and also against the two women ministers not wearing the Islamic hijab headcover. The MPs returned after a few minutes to tak e the oath. But later, the assembly approved a proposal by a number of Islamist and tribal MPs calling to refer the issue of hijab to the legal and legislative committee to study if the two ministers violated a clause in the election law that requires women to abide by Islamic guidelines while voting and contesting the elections.
The proposal was supported by 33 MPs while 21 liberals and the government opposed it. Also, outgoing speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi was elected to the post for a record-breaking fourth time in a spectacular manner, defeating his only rival MP Abdullah Al-Roumi by 52 votes to 11. As the voting results were announced, it was clear that the government as well as Islamist and even tribal MPs voted for Khorafi. Three MPs contested the post for the deputy speaker: Tribal MP Fahad Al-Azemi, Salaf MP Khaled Al-Sultan a nd liberal MP Ali Al-Rashed.
In the first round, no one got the majority and election was repeated between Azemi and Sultan. Azemi won by 35 votes against 27. The assembly later elected members for around 23 permanent and temporary committees which will function for only the remaining part of this term expected to come to an end later this month. New committee elections will be held at the start of the next term in October. Khorafi then adjourned the session for next Tuesday and Wednesday.
