KUWAIT CITY: Calls mounted in Kuwait yesterday for an overhaul of the political system after a new dispute between MPs and the government led to the dissolution of Parliament for the second time in a year.
The emir dissolved the 50-member assembly on Wednesday and called for new elections within two months in a bid to end years of political feuding that has stalled development in the country.
Analysts said without major changes, including a comprehensive revamp of Kuwait’s 1962 constitution, there would be no end to the paralyzing turmoil.
“We need fundamental changes to our democratic system. The constitution must be revamped to allow a true parliamentary system in which the government is elected,” said Nasser Al-Abdali, head of Kuwait Society for Development of Democracy. “If nothing happens, we will return to square one after the elections and have the same crises. This could risk a suspension of Parliament.”
Kuwait was the first Arab state in the Gulf to embrace the parliamentary system and adopt a constitution in 1962. Although elected MPs enjoy extensive legislative and monitoring powers, the house has no say in the formation of the Cabinet.
A government is not required to win a vote of confidence from Parliament before taking office and most ministers are not usually elected, although they enjoy the same voting rights as MPs.
Lawmakers can grill individual ministers and vote them out of office but have no power to bring down the entire Cabinet.
About a dozen liberal, nationalist and Islamist groups operate as de facto parties. Candidates contest polls on individual basis.
Following Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah’s decision to dissolve the 10-month-old Parliament, Kuwait will face new elections within two months —- the second since May last year and the third since June 2006.
The emir accused Parliament of abusing its constitutional powers and warned he would not “hesitate to take any step to safeguard the country’s security.”
Political bickering has hit development in the country. It prompted Moody’s Investors Service to place Kuwait’s sovereign ratings on review for possible downgrade.
“In the past three years, Kuwait experienced one of the most unstable periods in its history. It is an expression of chronic illness that impacted our life,” Al-Abdali said.
In December, the government scrapped a $7.5 billion deal with US giant Dow Chemical to set up a joint petrochemical venture and also plans to halt a $15 billion new refinery project, both under pressure from MPs.
