(MENAFN- Arab Times) The Development and Reform Bloc (DRB) fully supports the interpellation of Finance Minister Mustafa Al-Shammali, assured MP Faisal Al-Mislem on Monday.
He said that the majority had opposed the re-appointment of Al-Shammali in the Cabinet formation and called for his removal.
Al-Mislem said that the DRB will assign a member to speak in support of the grilling on Tuesday. The Majority Bloc agreed to merge Al-Shammali's grilling to be presented by MPs Abdulrahman Al-Anjari, Khaled Tahous and Obaid Al-Wassmi, as well as the withdrawal of MP Musallam Al-Barrak as one of the speakers, but parliament sources say that a proposal in that regard should be submitted and a voting round should take place to formally decide on the merger. Internal regulations state that a maximum of three speakers are assigned to present a grilling.
Al-Barrak, however, stated that he will take the podium and speak in support of the interpellation. It is predicted that a heated debate will take place on the interpellation's 11 proponents. The grilling will most likely lead to a no-confidence motion by the majority against Al-Shammali, who is expected to take the podium in line with the Cabinet's new approach towards the parliamentary tool.
On another note, Al-Mislem questioned the Finance Minister on the validity of information that an end of service bonus amounting to KD 400,000 was approved three months ago for the Director of the Public Authority for Social Security (PASS) and his assistants.
Meanwhile, the Legal and Legislative Committee has studied the proposals pertaining to MP Mohammed Al-Juwaihel, one of which is the proposal to subject Al-Juwaihel to a blood test. The Assembly had voted to bar Al-Juwaihel from attending parliament committee meetings and regular sessions for two weeks after he was accused of insulting MP Hamad Al-Matar. However, Al-Juwaihel said he will attend Tuesday session and sit in the audience section.
Rapporteur of the committee MP Mohammed Al-Dallal said the committee believes the blood test proposal is currently invalid as it pertained to flagrant criminal conduct and suspected drunkenness at the time. The internal regulations and the Constitution, he added, do not permit the proposal, or the proposal to bar Al-Juwaihel from entering the National Assembly for two weeks, but the committee will recommend the amendment of Article 89 pertaining to the punishment of those who violate parliament conduct.
Al-Dallal said the committee will recommend that the penalties are harsher, such as barring the offender from parliament for a month and a pay reduction. He added the committee also sees the proposal to establish an ethics committee as valid.
Moreover, MP Riyadh Al-Adsani reassured that he will submit his grilling against Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Lt General Ahmed Abdul-Latif Al-Rujeib as an independent. He said that he will support his claims of violations within the ministry with documents and if the offenders are not referred to the prosecution he will seek a no-confidence motion.
Meanwhile, MP Khaled Al-Sultan said the Assembly will hold a closed-door conference Wednesday
evening with state ministers and lawmakers to discuss Kuwait's economy and job opportunities for unemployed citizens. He added the meeting with outline an emergency plan that aims to create job opportunities within the next 14 years.
KUNA adds:
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mustafa Al-Shammali briefed the Cabinet on the two grilling requests tabled against him at the National Assembly (parliament) on May 7 by MP Obaid Al-Wasmi (the first interpellation) and MPs Khalid Al-Tahous, Abdulrahman Al-Anjari and Mosallam Al-Barrak (the second).
He explained his response to the points of the interpellations, affirming that his position is legally sound.
Acknowledging the constitutional right of the MPs to supervise the performance of the executive authority, the cabinet stated support for Al-Shammali "who is known for integrity, dedication and strict compliance to legal provisions" and voiced hope that the planned grilling moves will follow the sound democratic practices in order to serve national interests.
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