Oppn to boycott polls, Awazem to take part – Constitutional court to explain ruling on June 26 KUWAIT: Twenty-seven former opposition MPs yesterday signed a statement in which they vowed to boycott the forthcoming elections, but the opposition’s attempt to garner popular support for the boycott was dealt a heavy blow after the Awazem tribe, the largest in the country, decided to participate. The Awazem announcement was made by the tribe’s chief Falah bin Jame’ at a large gathering of the tribe. Jame’ told his tribesmen that he believes that “after the court ruling, we should participate”. Former opposition MP Falah Al-Sawwagh, a member of the tribe who is boycotting, appealed to the tribesmen not to change their opinion, especially since the single-vote amendment does not serve the interests of the tribe. Meanwhile, the constitutional court yesterday set next Wednesday as the date to respond to a petition asking the court to explain parts of its landmark ruling issued last week to order the National Assembly dissolved and to confirm the controversial amendment to the electoral law. The petition was filed by member of the scrapped Assembly Abdulhameed Dashti, who said that parts of the ruling were not clear and need some explanation. Dashti said that unlike a similar ruling issued by the same court a year ago, the new verdict did not call for reviving the Assembly that was elected in 2009 and dissolved in December 2011 after street protests by the opposition. Fresh election were later held in Feb 2012 but the election process was nullified on June 20, 2012 by the constitutional court which also ordered the Assembly to be dissolved and that the 2009 Assembly be reinstated. The 2009 Assembly was legally revived but could not hold any meeting because MPs boycotted its sessions, which forced the government to recommend to the Amir to dissolve it and this what happened and fresh elections were called and held on Dec 1 last year. Dashti inquired from the court if the new ruling requires the 2009 Assembly to be reinstated and whether these processes require issuing new Amiri decrees or not. The court explanation could somehow affect the government procedures to hold the election after the Cabinet decided last Thursday to hold the new polls on July 25. If the court says that the 2009 Assembly must be reinstated, then the election date will be changed as the government will have to dissolve it and call for fresh polls and this will take some time. Nevertheless, it is expected that registration of candidates for the Assembly polls may start Tuesday or Wednesday for 10 days. Withdrawal of candidates will then continue until 10 days before the election date. Under Kuwaiti law, a candidate must be 30 years old and above, knows how to read and write and have good conduct. Registration of candidates can start only after the Amiri decree inviting voters to cast their votes is published in the official gazette Kuwait Al-Youm. Among those who already declared they are running are former MPs Youssed Al-Zalzalah, Faisal Al-Duwaisan, Adnan Abdulsamad, Ahmad Lari, speaker of the scrapped Assembly Ali Al-Rashed and many others. On voting during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, Rashed said to change the voting from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm as stipulated by the election law to avoid high temperatures, a new Amiri decree must be issued to make the change. But Rashed warned that the decree must be issued as an emergency decree, which might be challenged in court. Via Kuwaittimes
Posted on: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 10:02:30 +0000
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