Speaking to Al-Qabas on the condition of anonymity, the insiders criticized the “ongoing parliamentary intervention in the cabinet’s formation,” something they compared to “errors of the 2012 parliament’s majority.”
They also said that putting a ‘veto’ on appointing certain names puts the government between a rock and a hard place. “Eliminating ministers as per lawmakers’ objections can be interpreted as submission, while doing the opposite might lead to the prime minister being termed uncooperative,” the sources explained.
Meanwhile, discussions are simultaneously going on about the parliamentary speaker’s post, which according to analysts is almost settled between Ali Al-Omair and Ali Al-Rashid.
Quoting the spectators, Al-Qabas indicated that Al-Omair could have a slight advantage as it would “restore balance” by “aligning half of the Salafists” who decided against boycotting the elections.
Separately, former MP Mubarak Al- Duwailah said during a seminar on Sunday that the “single-vote parliament poses a risk to Kuwait,” adding that it failed to curb vote buying. He said vote buying happened in the fifth constituency during the recent elections.
This comes while former MP Dr. Waleed Al-Tabtabaei told Al-Rai newspaper about “a number of ideas” studied by the opposition, including the possibility of a “popular” or “shadow” parliament elected by citizens who boycotted the recent elections.
However, sources close to the oppositionist coalition believe that such step was unlikely due to “difficulties in execution and fear of lack of interaction.” Asked about nightly demonstrations taking place in the residential areas, Al- Tabtabaei said they were not directed by certain blocs or groups, but were rather “a spontaneous reaction of citizens who were expressing their objection to the emergency decree in their own way.”
In a related development, Al-Rai reported quoting security sources that ten servicemen were arrested from a group of nearly one hundred protestors who were detained following clashes with riot police in Al-Sabahiya and Sabah Al-Nasser.
They included four members from the Interior Ministry, three from the Defense Ministry and three from the National Guard, said sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The sources further added that investigations were still on in an instance in which an officer was accused of firing shots from a mechanical weapon against a police helicopter during a demonstration.
The officer “still rejected the accusations for the second day in a row” since his arrest last Saturday. Police are reportedly waiting for test results to detect gunpowder that could potentially be present in his car or on his clothes.
Criminal investigators also arrested a person who was reportedly accompanying the suspect when the incident happened. Meanwhile, MP Dr. Maasouma Al- Mubarka has said the new government must include statesmen who believe in and are ready to implement the instructions of His Highness the Amir.
She told reporters that at this stage Kuwait needs an efficient and courageous government which does not throw a spanner in the wheels and is equipped to carry out its historical responsibility along with the National Assembly Council in a constructive spirit, capable of production and innovation and not just routine work.
“Therefore, I see no logic in rewarding with a ministerial post anyone who stood up against the Amir’s wish of one voter-one vote,” she said. She explained that so far she has not been offered any post. “Nothing has been offered to me, nor have I accepted or declined anything,” she emphasized.
She said, “We will not defend the government and will not give up supervision. Instead, we will achieve a balance between supervision and legislation and will extend our hand of cooperation. We look forward to a careful selection of ministers, be they from the council or outside.”
