"We must overcome the current phase and all its impacts and turn a new page to build our nation," the Amir called in his opening speech to the new National Assembly elected on May 16.
He also called for adopting a "new political address," saying that there is no time for anything but working to adopt a new national action vision based on foreseeing the future, looking to globalization and keenness for modernity. This, he said, will elevate Kuwait’s status to that of modern states.
Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah said his government extends its hands of cooperation with MPs to forget the tension of the past and forge ahead with plans to move the country forward. He explained that the government will focus on four main files, topped by cooperation with the Assembly and development plans to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Kuwait.
But as new MPs and government ministers began to take the constitutional oath, 14 Islamist and tribal MPs walked out in protest against the government and over two female MPs and one minister who were not wearing the Islamic hijab. MP Musallam Al-Barrak said the government has blamed the Assembly for stalling development while it is coming today with no program or development plan.
Four MPs from the Rasheedi tribe – Saad Khanfour, Shuaib Al-Muwaizri, Mubarak Al-Khrainej and Mubarak Al-Waalan – walked out because the new government has no representative from their tribe. Other MPs who walked out included Barrak, Khaled Al-Tahous, Jamaan Al-Harbash, Dhaifallah Buramia, Falah Al-Sawwagh, Ali Al-Deqbasi, Faisal Al-Muslim, Mohammed Hayef Al-Mutairi, Waleed Al-Tabtabae and Hussain Mizyed.
Islamist MPs walked out at the presence of MPs Aseel Al-Awadhi and Rola Dashti and Education Minister Mudhi Al-Humoud for not wearing the hijab, saying they violated the election law which requires women to comply with sharia law. Al-Tabtabae said that this could negate their success in the elections. But other MPs appeared disinterested in the issue with liberal MPs defending the women who did not respond.
