MP Faisal Al-Mislem said that around 12 opposition MPs attended the meeting and agreed that the grilling against the prime minister will be filed before Oct 13 and also agreed on the main issue of the grilling.
The meeting also agreed to mobilise people at today’s rally and future rallies which will all be held in the area opposite the National Assembly, the lawmaker said. Mislem denied reports that the liberal National Action Bloc has refused to take part in the grilling, saying there is no problem with the National Bloc as they are partners in this issue with the rest of the opposition.
The meeting did not discuss who will file the grilling against the prime minister, Mislem said, adding that MP Falah Al-Sawwagh will represent the Reform and Development Bloc of which Mislem is the spokesman.
The participation of the National Bloc is crucial for the success of any potential non-cooperation motion that is likely to follow the grilling.
Such a motion requires 25 votes to pass and the opposition has so far around 20 MPs and desperately needs the support of the six MPs of the National Bloc. Mislem acknowledged that there are differences among the various groups of the opposition, but stressed that all should be united toward this national cause in order to prevent a national catastrophe "if we do not stop the prime minister".
The lawmaker also appealed to all political groups, opposition MPs, writers and others to unite for the sake of the country and "our children".
Meanwhile, the Islamic Constitutional Movement and the three liberal groups, National Democratic Alliance, the Democratic Forum and the Progressive Movement, all appealed to their supporters to attend today’s rally.
On his part, head of the Salaf Movement Fuhaid Al-Hailam said fighting against corruption is the responsibility of the whole society and protecting public funds is a national duty. Hailam said that the best way to express rejection to such practices is by attending today’s rally, adding that the Kuwaiti people are required to make serious moves so that their voice reaches the decision-makers to take the appropriate decision to curb rife corruption.
Also, Islamist MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei said that a number of leading figures have been invited to attend today’s rally like former MPs Hamad Al-Jouaan, Ahmad Al-Khateeb and Ahmad Baqer, besides MPs Ahamd Al-Saadoun and Khaled Al-Sultan. He added that Jouaan has apologized because of his illness and organizers still expected others to attend.
In another development, Shiite MP Saleh Ashour warned that he will file a request to grill Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah if he fails to answer 20 questions he asked a few weeks ago. Ashour said that he is still waiting for the answers, and "if I find the answers are not convincing, I will also file to grill the minister.
