Ex-MP Barrak says opposition to draw new ‘roadmap’

Ny B Izzak

KUWAIT: National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem has refuted calls by opposition MPs to step down, saying he was elected in the first round by a majority in the Assembly and this cannot be undermined by a group of “seven, nine or even 100 lawmakers”. Speaking to reporters after visiting MP Obaid Al-Wasmi on his return from an overseas medical trip, Ghanem expressed hope that nothing will happen in this Assembly term to obstruct the work of the parliament, like what happened in the previous term.

He said dissolving the National Assembly is in the hands of HH the Amir, but “in my view, I think things are heading for the better”, adding that obstructing the work of the National Assembly does not serve the interests of the Kuwaiti people. Ghanem also hoped that the prime minister will form a Cabinet that meets the aspirations of the Kuwaiti people, adding that if the new government is formed this week, the Assembly will resume its sessions from Jan 4.

About calls by opposition MPs for the departure of Ghanem and the prime minister, the speaker said “it is the right of anyone to say whatever he wants, but I believe that such calls are unrelated to the constitution or any person who respects the constitution”. “The Assembly speaker was elected by Kuwaitis and not in China, by overwhelming popular support that cannot be broken by seven, nine or even 100 MPs. The Assembly speaker was elected despite the intervention of public funds thieves,” he said.

Meanwhile, ex-MP and opposition leader Musallam Al-Barrak, who recently returned from exile in Turkey, said yesterday there are efforts to invite the 31 opposition MPs to a meeting to draw a roadmap for the future. He said the plan for opposition political groups should include political reforms and the approval of a number of urgent bills for the benefit of the people.

MP Hamdan Al-Azemi yesterday asked the finance minister if Iraq had paid its last payment of compensations resulting from the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990. The lawmaker said the Iraqi central bank announced a few days ago that Iraq paid its last payment of multibillion-dollar reparations imposed by the UN Security Council for damages caused by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The lawmaker also asked the minister if Kuwait has granted Iraq any loans in the past 20 years and if yes, what is their value.