Sheikh Mohammad said that he will deal with any new grilling by MP Hussein Al-Qallaf within the framework of the constitution and the law. Qallaf grilled the minister last week but without a no-confidence motion.
The minister also denied that the government may send a letter of non-cooperation with the National Assembly to HH the Amir if MPs file to grill Finance Minister Mustafa Al-Shamali, adding that the government will also deal with such a grilling, if submitted, in accordance with the law.
Opposition MP Musallam Al-Barrak had vowed to file to grill Shamali before the end of the month but only after showing a draft of the planned grilling at a meeting next Sunday of the majority bloc.
The backing of the bloc is essential for the success of the grilling if the intention is to vote the finance minister out of office which needs only 25 votes while the majority has well over 30 MPs. Earlier in the week, Barrak strongly criticized the minister over allegations of administrative and financial irregularities and the minister responded by blaming Barrak for harming national interests by issuing irresponsible statements.
Observers expect that Barrak could be joined by two more MPs in the grilling against Shamali over several issues including appointments at state-owned companies and the finance ministry’s role in the bank deposits and foreign transfers scandals that have rocked the country.
In another development, the Assembly began yesterday debating the Amiri Address delivered by the prime minister at the inauguration of the new Assembly, with MPs calling for fundamental political reforms.
The special session was cut short due to a lack of quorum after the session was temporarily adjourned for prayers. Newly-elected MP Faisal Al-Yahya insisted that the cornerstone of any democracy is the peaceful rotation of power, and urged the ruling family to appoint members of the family in posts that are suitable to them. He also called on the government to pay more attention to the youth.
MP Abdulrahman Al-Anjari called for comprehensive democratic and political reforms, insisting that there can be no true democracy without political parties.
MP Mohammad Al-Sager also criticied the ruling family’s increased ownership of media outlets, saying that six daily newspapers and five satellite channels are owned by members of the ruling family and questioned the aims of such moves.
