In a hard-hitting statement signed by 35 members of the 2012 assembly, the opposition insisted that the “ruling came outside the legislative authority”, adding that the court in this ruling has “exceeded the limitations of its powers”.
“We call on the members of the constitutional court and the Supreme Judicial Council to rectify the situation and reverse” the ruling, the statement read by Khaled Al-Sultan said.
The statement also called on the judicial authority not to venture into politics and not extend its authority outside its jurisdictions specified in the law establishing the constitutional court.
The opposition reiterated that the Amiri decree dissolving the previous Assembly “does not fall within the jurisdiction of the constitutional court” and accordingly its ruling “is null and void” and should be rectified.
The new position of the Kuwaiti opposition, comprising of 35 MPs of the 2012 Assembly, came after a four-hour meeting at the diwaniya of former speaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun.
The opposition also called on the government to reject any dealing with the previous Assembly which was dissolved by the Amir because several of its members are allegedly involved in corruption scandals. The new position by the Kuwaiti opposition is likely to escalate political tension in the country, which rose to new heights following the unprecedented court ruling.
The ruling was based on the grounds that two Amiri decrees issued to dissolve the previous Assembly and to invite Kuwaiti voters to elect a new Assembly last year “were found to be illegal” and accordingly, the court cancelled the election process, scrapping the Assembly elected on Feb 2 and reinstated the previous Assembly.
Saadoun and several former MPs from the opposition meanwhile denied rumours that the opposition MPs will go to the Assembly and resume their duties in a normal way.
Speaker of the 2009 Assembly Jassem Al-Khorafi meanwhile returned from abroad and immediately declared that his return came after learning of the constitutional court ruling in order to take the necessary constitutional procedures after the ruling.
He said that he is due to meet HH the Amir today to discuss the developments but insisted that an expected decision to dissolve the previous Assembly again is the authority of the Amir.
Khorafi called on all sides to respect the constitutional court ruling in order to achieve political stability in the country.
He said he will discuss with the concerned people a number of issues regarding inviting the 2009 MPs to hold a session and who is going to attend and those boycotting. He said he will also discuss if the government will attend and if it is constitutional and other issues related to the Assembly.
