(MENAFN- Arab Times) The interpellation motion against the foreign minister is expected to frontline Tuesday's parliament session over several issues, including purported "breach of the constitution and harming state interests." MP Dr. Abdulhamid Dashti is grilling the First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al- Hamad Al-Sabah over several axes, namely alleged "violation of the constitution's provisions, disrespect of the state and harming its assets." Other charges MP Dashti is due to address are disregard to the constitution provisions with respect of the GCC security treaty, endorsed on December 13, 2012.
Moreover, the minister will be queried over "squandering citizens' rights outside the State of Kuwait, failure of fulfilling his (the minister) duty to protect them and evading parliamentary questioning." He is also accused of tarnishing and weakening Kuwait's image and "seceding its sovereignty."
MP Dashti submitted the interpellation motion against Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, on May 11, to Acting National Assembly Speaker Adel Al- Kharafi, in line with Provision 100 of the National Constitution
Question
The article stipulates that members of parliament are entitled to question the prime minister and members of his cabinet over issues falling within their jurisdictions. Tomorrow's session will also tackle a host of other topics. The MPs will examine a report by the parliamentary budgets and final accounts' committee regarding state departments' final accounts, endorsement of the state departments and ministries' budgets. Meanwhile, Dashti said he will respect the constitutional steps that the Parliament is expected to take regarding his interpellation request against First Deputy Premier and Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al- Sabah. He confirmed meeting Parliament Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim on Sunday, indicating that both of them respect each other's views. Last week, Dashti filed a grilling request against the foreign affairs minister over Kuwait's participation in the Saudi-led war against Shiite Houthi militias. He holds the minister responsible for Kuwait's participation in the war and signing of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Security Pact. He added the minister sued Kuwaiti activists and politicians, including himself, for criticizing Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Interpellation
The interpellation motion is scheduled for discussion in the Parliament this week, that is, if the minister does not request for two weeks postponement. Dashti pointed out no decision has been finalized until now and there are many options within the constitutional framework, although he is hoping that the Parliament will discuss the grilling motion in an open session. He intends to take the necessary constitutional and regulatory steps if the Parliament takes another decision. In case the legislature issues a decision to tackle the grilling motion in a closed door session, he will express his position during the session although he is hoping this will not happen.
Commenting on the grilling request, MP Hamdan Al-Azmi has called on the government to face the interpellation rather than postponing or referring it to the Legislative Committee or the Constitutional Court. He said that in case the government dodges this interpellation, the action will negatively affect the political arena. He urged the minister to stand on the grilling podium and defend Kuwait's foreign affairs policy. He added the minister must confirm that the Gulf region is a single entity.
On a related issue, MP Saleh Ashour stressed the current political developments are very important, especially the interpellation against the foreign affairs minister and appointments in the oil sector. He stressed such appointments are part of the prerogatives of the oil minister, indicating the incumbent minister € Ali Al-Omair € has appointed KPC's board of directors to help him in his work. He wondered why some people launched a scathing attack against the minister due to this appointment. On the interpellation filed against the foreign affairs minister, Ashour asserted that interpellation is the right of any MP and there is no need to make judgment before looking into the grilling points. He called on the government to deal with the interpellation in a constitutional way. He pointed out that the failure to follow proper procedures led to this interpellation, emphasizing the government should have discussed Kuwait's participation in the Operation Decisive Storm with the National Assembly prior to taking such action. He added it is now time for the government to bear the political responsibility, reiterating that cancelling or referring the interpellation request to the Legislative Committee is not in the interest of the executive and legislative authorities.
In another development, the parliamentary Public Utilities Committee approved Sunday the proposal to amend the Environment Law in order to impose harsher punishments on those keeping or breeding predatory animals (wildlife). The revised law stipulates that punishments for acquisition, sale or purchase and any other form of deals concerning predatory animals include fine of KD 20,000; imprisonment for six months or both penalties.
However, it does not stipulate punishment for any individual or entity that obtains a special license from the Public Authority for Agriculture and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) for certain activities like operating a circus or a zoo. Speaking to reporters after the committee meeting, one of the members - MP Majed Mousah - confirmed inclusion of the proposed amendment in the agenda of the Parliament.
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