The coming parliament’s tenure
Is it logical to judge the coming parliament and predict its term in office even before candidate registration is over? Is it politically reasonable to prejudge the parliament even before its formation is clear? Will such analyses enhance hopes of achieving political stability or will they trigger more frustrations?
There are a number of political indicators carrying certain and clear meanings to observers and those interested in public concerns. Objective assessment of such indicators might lead to much optimism. To start with, the strange sudden manner in dissolving the 2013 parliament might lead some parties to file cases at the constitutional court on grounds that what happened was political frivolity and governmental abuse to annul the legislative power without any clear justification, which might confuse the entire political scene and take us all back to square one.
The second indicator lies in the fact that many of the former boycotters rushed to run for the coming elections amid accusations of breaking their promises and principles, especially since they all called for boycotting the elections after the constitutional court passed its verdict. Initial statements made by some of them are the same politically and sectarian provocative ones that had played on people’s emotions. This takes us back to ballot boxes in an atmosphere of sectarianism and tribalism at the expense of national and reform calls and those making them.
The next parliament will most likely witness the very same silly and theatrical showoff attempts while major and more important decisions and the corrupt legislations passed by the annulled parliament will be neglected and remain effective to drain citizens’ budgets, limit their liberties and politically intimidate them.
The third indicator lies in the best possible scenario of a large number of candidates supported by the angry public opinion winning parliamentary seats with intentions to mercilessly hold the government accountable, namely the premier, whether Sheikh Jaber remains in office or Sheikh Nasser AlMohammed returns to office, according to some leaks. The mere success of 25 members who had not been in the previous parliament would suggest it will not last long and get annulled by a court order or by dissolving it very early.
However, if the new parliament is clear in shape and formation to that of 2013, it will be politically useless and thus the government will benefit, because lawmakers will be too busy with personal issues and side conflicts, while decisions related to e-crimes, political suppression, precautionary detention, security restrictions, and increasing fuel and electricity prices will surely remain in effect to complete the horrifying economic reform package including increasing fees, cutting salaries and selling some state assets in the coming period and overwhelming privatization plans.
The government will also benefit by involving some boycotters in political life by temptations of senior positions, while others will become part of the futile political scene, and thus use up whatever public support they still have. The situations remain very bad.
— Translated by Kuwait Times