KUWAIT CITY, 18 March 2008 — The ministers in Kuwait’s Cabinet submitted their resignations yesterday over growing differences with lawmakers in Parliament, a government statement said.
The statement, following the Cabinet’s weekly meeting, said that all 14 Cabinet members submitted their resignations to Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, citing differences between the executive and legislative powers.
It was not clear whether the resignations would be accepted by the prime minister, who would also have to take the matter to the Emir, Sheikh Sabah-Al Ahmed Al-Sabah, for a final decision.
The statement said the prime minister told his ministers he “understood” the reasons for their move.
Lately, the Kuwaiti Parliament and government have been at odds. Among other issues, the assembly has been insisting on a pay hike for civil servants even though a generous salary increase has already been given by the Cabinet. In the joint resignation letter, which was included in the statement, Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah complained that lawmakers were “interfering” in the work of government ministers in a way that has “disabled the Cabinet from carrying out its responsibilities.” He said the lack of cooperation between the two powers has hindered development efforts and caused “disappointment” among the people.
Parliament was scheduled to vote today on a pay increase for civil servants that the Cabinet had refused. On March 4, Cabinet members stormed out of a parliamentary session in protest, saying generous salaries were already eating up half the state budget.
Repeated grilling in the house of Cabinet members has led to many resignations in recent years.
