The National Action Bloc members are divided over whether to take part in any demonstrations following the Cabinet’s swearing in event on Tuesday of the reinstated 2009 parliament, according to sources close to the liberal group.

he main point of conflict pertains to whether to vote on any bills that can be produced during the session, or walk out immediately after ministers finish taking the oath.

On that regard, sources explained that “MP Saleh Al-Mullah strongly pushes for walking out right after the Cabinet’s swearing-in.” The lawmaker further informed his colleagues about his intention to resign following the ceremony, or if the session is not held due to lack of quorum, said the sources.

The remaining bloc members believe that they should wait and see if the Cabinet presents a request to refer the electoral system to the Constitutional Court “and vote in approval of said request,” sources added.

Neutral stance

MP Ali Al-Omair criticized lawmakers who announce plans to resign from the 2009 parliament “but fail to live up to their promises.” “Lawmakers refusing to take part in the 2009 parliament are advised to resign from their posts and give up their immunity and all other privileges that the MP’s position provides,” Al-Omair told reporters who attended a ghabqa he hosted Saturday for third constituency voters.

And while announcing his ‘neutral’ stance at a potential request by the government to preside over the dispute of the current electoral system – an action that the opposition highly opposes, Al-Omair indicated that he plans to attend tomorrow’s session “if that would help the government continue with constitutional procedures.”

Constitutional Court’s rulings

MP Adnan Al-Abdulsamad criticized oppositionist lawmakers for often using the word ‘tampering’ to describe a potential step of the Cabinet to verify the constitutionality of the current five-constituency electoral system by referring it to the Constitutional Court.

“Opinions about constituencies or votes must be kept within constitutional framework that are built on studies instead of statements,” Al-Abdulsamad said in a statement released yesterday.

“Using the term tampering to refer to a verdict made within the frameworks of the Constitution as a violation of the Constitution itself,” Al-Abdulsamad explained, further insisting that “the 2009 Parliament is legal and constitutional.”

Al-Abdulsamad also announced that he will not be attending tomorrow’s session, and warned the Cabinet against “submitting to pressure in order to take steps outside the legal and constitutional framework.”

Salafists look for replacement
The Islamic Salafist Assembly plans to nominate former MP Fahad Al-Khannah as a candidate in the second constituency, while they are still looking for another candidate to replace Khalid Al-Sultan and Abdullatif Al-Omairi.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, sources indicated that the assembly looks to convince former lawmaker and minster Ahmad Baqer to run for Parliament “because he currently does not appear to be planning to contest elections.” Meanwhile, sources confirmed that Al-Sultan and Al-Omairi “will run as independents” in the upcoming elections.

‘Where else can we seek justice?’

Lawmakers from the annulled 2012 parliament, Nabil Al-Fadhl stressed that real reform should start by altering the electoral constituencies and allowing a voter to choose only one candidate instead of four. “The four vote-system is susceptible to forgery, the nation’s will,” he stressed.

Furthermore, Al-Fadhl pointed out that the call made by the majority MPs to boycott elections will not change the situation. “In the previous elections, 40 percent of voters failed to take part. With the opposition MPs, it will hardly be 41,” he underlined.

” If the constituencies are amended and the one vote system is used, the only MP who will not run for the elections will be Ahmed Al-Saadoun. He would know that he does not stand a chance,” added Al-Fadhl expressing surprise at the rejection of the majority MPs to go to the Constitutional Court. “If they refuse to move the Constitutional Court, where else should we go to achieve justice?” he concluded.

Dashti sues Al-Harbash’s son

Attorney and lawmaker of the annulled 2012 parliament Abdulhameed Dashti filed a lawsuit against citizen Abdullah Jamaan Al-Harbash, son of MP Dr Jamaan Al-Harbash, in the parliament storming case that took place late last year. In a petition filed with the Attorney General yesterday, Dashti argues that there is “photographic evidence” as well as testimonies of eye witnesses which level the same accusations against Al-Harbash which 68 suspects face in a case filed after the incident.
KTUF demands leave on 50 C days

The Kuwait Trade Union Federation(KTUF) demanded that employees be given “paid leaves during days on which temperatures exceed 50 degrees Celsius,” in a statement released yesterday.

The KTUF based its demand on regulations “which ban work in unsuitable weather conditions for safety reasons”, adding that “the difficulty of working during fasting hours throughout Ramadan adds to the need for taking this decision.”