The PM’s interview
In his first lengthy televised interview, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak AlSabah presented a profound image of a man in the highest executive position in the country. A full humane image that reflects the true personality of Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak as a human being, not as the controversial political leader; which was probably the reason behind criticism after the interview was aired.
Generally speaking and to be honest, 90 percent of the interview, which was conducted by Othman AlAnjeri, focused on Sheikh Jaber as a person rather than his position. It also included documentation of some major incidents. Responding to a question about tolerating criticism, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak stressed that those who cannot tolerate criticism better quit any public service positions and retire.
Some people might think that this was too platonic, but the truth is that Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak has always strongly believed in this principle ever since he started his political career and till he won the premiership. The man has never sued any writer, media figure, blogger or politician despite the severe criticism that sometimes went as far as personal slander. He has never filed a single case of this type.
A month ago, the opposition produced a list of what they called ‘Jaber Al-Mubarak achievements’, which included 25 points of criticism they saw as violations committed during his tenure. In fact, half of the points on that list were passed in parliament as bills unanimously voted upon, which mean that lawmakers were the ones who passed them even if the government made such proposals. It was the MPs we elected that were behind passing them. The funny thing is that those waving with this list were the ones who had boycotted parliamentary elections and then started criticizing the 2013 parliament. What an awkward paradox! They should have admitted that their boycotting was the main reason behind passing such laws because the parliament was born weak. To be honest, the man made remarkable achievements in a few years ever since he was appointed prime minister in 2011.