AMIR DISSOLVES ASSEMBLY
Decree accuses parliament of constitutional violations, including using offensive language
KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Thursday issued an Amiri decree dissolving the National Assembly over disrespectful remarks by lawmakers regarding the ruler, an official statement said. An official statement cited by the KUNA news agency said the parliament has been dissolved “due to the National Assembly breaching constitutional principles as it failed to show due respect to the political leadership (HH the Amir) and for deliberately using uncontrolled and offensive language”.
The decree said the dissolution was based on article 107 of the constitution, which gives HH the Amir the authority to dissolve the National Assembly but by stating the reasons. The article also states that fresh elections must be held within two months of the date of the dissolution. The dissolved Assembly was elected barely nine months ago in early June last year after the dissolution of the previous Assembly over disputes with the government.
The dissolution came after the government headed by HH Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, formed about a month ago, approved an Amiri decree calling to dissolve the National Assembly over the offensive remarks. The government’s decision came during an extraordinary meeting held late Thursday. HH Sheikh Mishal took the oath in the Assembly to assume his powers as the new ruler of Kuwait on Dec 20, a few days after the demise of former Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
The decree did not make any specific reference to the remarks, but the government had boycotted Wednesday’s Assembly session after the Assembly voted overwhelmingly to support the remarks. The remarks were made by lawmaker Abdulkarim Al-Kandari last week. It is the third time the National Assembly has been dissolved during the past 18 months and the ninth time since 2006 amid non-stop political crises between the elected parliament and the government.