Parliament rejects opinion of judicial council on political parties formation

Constitutional Court to take final decision: MP

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 21: A number of MPs rejected the memo issued by the Supreme Judiciary Council concerning organizing of political parties, considering it as an interference in the affairs of the legislative authority, reports Aljarida daily.

MP Adnan Abdulsamad said the opinion of the Supreme Judiciary Council is not obligatory for the National Assembly, which has the power to enforce a different opinion.

He insisted that the final decision is for the Constitutional Court to take after completing the necessary legal and constitutional procedures.

MP Abdullah Al-Kandari said the shifting of roles and the extension of power of the judicial authority are in violation of Article 50 of the Kuwaiti Constitution.

He stressed that imposing the opinion of the judicial power in the issue related to formation of political parties is unacceptable.

Al-Kandari affirmed that he does not support the prior censorship on law-making, insisting on the danger of removing the power of the National Assembly and suspending its constitutional duties.

MP Saleh Ashour said the proper way to appeal a law approved by the National Assembly is through the Constitutional Court, which will decide if the law contradicts or meets the Constitution of Kuwait.

He stressed that the memo of the Supreme Judiciary Council is regarded as interference in political issues.

Ashour affirmed that Kuwait has political blocs such as Muslim Brotherhood Group, Salafist Movement, Shiite and National bloc but they are not regarded as violators of the Constitution, and the government has dealt with them.

In addition, MP Abdulkareem Al-Kandari said the relevant constitutional text neither mandates the formation of political parties nor bans it, leaving the issue to the lawmakers.

He indicated that the explanatory memo of article 43 of the Constitution affirms that nothing is higher than the Constitution.