Kuwait National Assembly, or parliament, begin its 2nd term of the 16th legislative session on Tuesday following His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s call on legislative and executive authorities to hold national dialogue towards political concord in line with the constitution.
His Highness the Amir is scheduled to inaugurate the session with speeches followed by speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
Then the house will elect the standing committees and interim committees if latters proposed by parliament members.
Article 85 of the Constitution states that “The National Assembly shall have an annual session of not less than eight months. The said session may not be prorogued before the budget is approved.” Minister of Amiri Diwan Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Sabah announced, on September 29, that His Highness the Amir instructed the executive and legislative authorities to open a national dialogue aiming to prepare the ground for effective cooperation.
His Highness the Amir urged both sides to pool their efforts and resources towards putting aside their differences, and resolving all problems in serving the interests of the citizens and the dear homeland, he said.
He looks forward to the dialogue realizing its aspired objectives in pushing forward the march of democratic action, which is a source of pride for everybody, in the framework of the constitution and the national principles, the minister noted.
Following the dialogue, His Highness the Amir assigned last Wednesday the Speaker, the Prime Minister and Head of the Judicial Council to propose regulations and conditions of amnesty on some Kuwaiti convicts to pave way for amnesty decree.
Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah said a national dialogue between the legislative and executive authorities was designed to achieve political stability and cooperation between the two authorities in line with Article 50 of the Constitution, which separates, but urged cooperation among, authorities.
The legislative and executive authorities, said Sheikh Mohammad, appreciated His Highness the Amir’s call and expressed hope dialogue end political standoff in a drive to achieve the principle of cooperation.
He said His Highness the Amir took note of the appeal by around 40 parliament members who reaffirmed keenness on cooperation and political stability, and in line with what His Highness the Amir’s advisors conveyed to him, His Highness the Amir decided to use this constitutional right in line with Article 75.
Article 75 states: The Amir may, by decree, grant a pardon or commute a sentence. However, general amnesty shall not be granted except by a law and then only in respect of offences committed prior to the proposal of the amnesty.”
Source: Kuwait News Agency