The statement came in a day of political drama when lawmakers opposed to Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah appear to have gained the support of 25 MPs, the number required to vote him out of power.
The liberal five-MP National Action Bloc, which was hesitant to declare its support for a non-cooperation motion against the premier, yesterday said it is prepared to "go to the end" in any grilling field against the prime minister, which means they are ready to support a no-confidence motion.
The opposition officially has 20 MPs and it is expected to gain the support of independent Shiite MP Hassan Jowhar and now the five MPs of the National Bloc, a total of 26 votes, one more than the required number to unseat the prime minister.
Yesterday’s developments began with a lengthy meeting between the Amir and the "Opposition Bloc". Lawmakers who attended the meeting came out with mixed positive and negative signals about the outcome of the meeting.
Sources said that about seven MPs spoke during the meeting, all focusing on the main issue that the prime minister and his government are incapable of running the country and fighting corruption, but stopped short of calling on the Amir to dismiss them both and dissolve the National Assembly.
The opposition lawmakers had accepted preconditions to meet the Amir that they will not call for sacking the government and dissolving the Assembly, because these are the exclusive constitutional rights of the Amir.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the Opposition Bloc said that the meeting was cordial and MPs expressed their high esteem of the Amir.
The lawmakers expressed their full respect of the constitutional principles that determine the powers of the Amir, but also expressed the need for a new prime minister to lead the country.
The statement said that MPs also explained the deterioration in the affairs of the country and held the prime minister and the government responsible for this.
Later, a member of the group MP Mohammad Al-Mutair said that a grilling will be filed against the prime minister "to let everyone shoulder their responsibilities".
Several MPs also said in statements that they conveyed to the Amir the political developments in the country and the corruption cases and stressed that the country requires a new government.
The Opposition Bloc received a major shot in the arm during the day when the National Bloc issued a strong-worded statement saying they country needed a new prime minister and a new government. The bloc also said it was ready to support "to the end" a grilling against the prime minister over an alleged corruption scandal in which about 15 MPs are charged of receiving millions of dinars in bribes.
The bloc insisted that Kuwait urgently needs to get out of its political paralysis and this will not be done by the people who were responsible for causing the state of paralysis and accordingly the country needs a new prime minister. This is the most explicit position of the liberal bloc which had been in an undeclared alliance with the prime minister.
MP Khaled Al-Adwah, who was among the pro-government MPs who met the Amir, said that they heard the advice and guidance of the Amir who called for the need for cooperation between the Assembly and the government. MP Maasouma Al-Mubarak said the Amir expressed concern for young people who are being pushed to the streets.
Although the day saw fast-paced developments, no action or decision is expected to take place until after the Eid Al-Adha holidays which end on Nov 13.
