KUWAIT CITY, Nov 25: The Constitution of Kuwait does not have any provision for the suspension of parliament, says a constitutional expert. Attorney Labeed Abdal was taking stock of the tense political situation after some parliamentarians threatened to grill the prime minister and the Cabinet resigned Tuesday. Quoting Article 107, Labeed said, in light of dissolution of the parliament, elections for the new Assembly are held within a period not exceeding two months from the date of dissolution. “If elections are not held within the said period, the dissolved Assembly is restored to its full constitutional authority and meets immediately as if the dissolution had not taken place. The Assembly then continues to function until the new Assembly is elected.” Article 197, he said, states that the Amir may dissolve the National Assembly by a decree in which reasons for dissolution are explicitly enumerated. However, dissolution of the Assembly may not be repeated for the same reasons.
Replying to a question whether he was anticipating dissolution of the parliament, Labeed said: “I do not expect dissolution of the parliament as I think the present situation must be handled in a prudent manner and by this I mean rightful application of articles. Another thing is that we should have a strong prime minster and strong government capable of overcoming any political tsunamis.” He said that the parliamentary life in Kuwait was suspended in 1985 during the rule of the late Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al-Sabah in wake of the Iran-Iraq war, even as democratic life was restored soon after the liberation of Kuwait. Expressing his views on the proposed grilling of the prime minister, Labeed noted that grilling is a constitutional right of parliamentarians with regards to monitoring performance of the government in larger interests of public education, public health and development of the country.
“The Constitution of Kuwait is considered one of the most advanced Constitutions, especially in relation to maintaining the main pillars of the society such as justice, liberty, and equality,” he noted.
By Francis A. Clifford Cardozo
Arab Times Staff
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/client/pagesdetails.asp?nid=25289&ccid=9
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