While the most probable solution would be to hold one session of the 2009 parliament so that the Cabinet can swear- in before dissolution procedures get underway. Concern is already growing about the likelihood that most legislators will refuse to play the role of ‘puppets’ in a show that has been staged to ‘legalize’ dissolution.
This speculation mentioned by ‘anonymous spectators’ quoted in an Al-Qabas report yesterday falls in line with simultaneous statements of Dr Waleed Al-Tabtabaei. He alleged that the government “plans to retain the 2009 parliament until the completion of its four-year term,” reported Al-Qabas.
Constitutional experts told a local daily that it is not necessary to hold a separate session to dissolve the 2009 parliament. “The Cabinet gains legitimacy after taking the oath in front of the Amir, giving them the authority from a constitutional standpoint to attend a parliament session,” experts explained to Al-Rai.
They added that a session was canceled owing to a lack of quorum, enabling the Cabinet to send a non-cooperation letter to the Amir based on which a dissolution can be carried out constitutionally, reported Al-Rai.
Al-Tabtabaei believes that the Cabinet seeks to increase the number of electoral constituencies from five to 10 before a dissolution is held. Many lawmakers argue that proceeding with such a step without passing a draft law by the Parliament is unjustifiable.
“Any step can only be interpreted as an attempt to control election results,” Saleh Al-Mulla, a member of the 2009 parliament who lost the 2012 elections said.
The Constitutional Court made an unprecedented ruling last Wednesday indicating that procedures of the 2009 parliament dissolution is unconstitutional. This subsequently means that the elections held last February in which the opposition won the majority seats has become void. The ruling also states that the 2009 parliament must be reinstated, a happening that the oppositionist coalition in the 2012 parliament warned against.
Meanwhile, reports varied about whether Shuwaib Al-Muwaizri, Minister of Housing, State Minister of Cabinet Affairs, submitted his resignation as shown by documents made available to the media on Thursday.
According to a cabinet insider, Prime Minister HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah did not receive Al-Muwaizri’s resignation letter at the end of working hours on Thursday. The source noted that the minister handed over his resignation from the 2009 parliament to the General Secretariat of the National Assembly. Around 30 MPs announced that the ruling was passed by resigning from the 2009 parliament. However, this step may not be necessary if a dissolution can be arranged.
