Amir meets PM, senior ministers

Govt rejects amendments to prisoners’ rehabilitation law

KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Tuesday received HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf Al-Sabah, who submitted his government’s resignation two weeks ago. He also received Defense Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah and Interior Minister Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Sabah.

HH the Amir has not yet assigned someone to form the new Cabinet, although he completed customary consultations last week. He can rename the same premier or ask a new figure to form the government. The Assembly will not be able to meet until the new government is formed and sworn in by HH the Amir.

Meanwhile, the government on Tuesday officially rejected key amendments to the prisoners’ rehabilitation law which reduced rehabilitation periods, allowing jailed politicians to run for office earlier. The amendments, approved overwhelmingly by the National Assembly two weeks ago while ministers opposed it, reduce by at least half the duration required to rehabilitate prisoners after completing their jail terms.

Under the previous law, prisoners for any crime need to have waited for at least 10 years to be rehabilitated, while the amendments cut the required period by half.The amendments would have served former MPs and activists who were jailed and were required to wait for 10 years to be rehabilitated and allowed to contest elections. A number of former leading lawmakers would have benefited from the amendments immediately to be able to contest polls.

The government sent the amendments back to the National Assembly, saying the reduction of the periods undermined public interests. HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal openly criticized the amendments in a speech after taking the oath in the Assembly to assume his constitutional powers, saying the amendments harm national interests.

MP Saud Al-Asfour said that the action is part of the government’s constitutional powers. He added the Assembly committees will review the amendments again and send them back to the Assembly for a vote. To override the government’s rejection, MPs need to approve the amendments again by a two-thirds majority, or a total of 42 members in the 65-member house, including the 16 Cabinet members who are allowed to vote on such matters although they are unelected members.