FREEDOM AGENDA: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY POSTPONES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 005136

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KDEM KU FREEDOM AGENDA
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
SUBJECT: FREEDOM AGENDA: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY POSTPONES
DISCUSSION ON ELECTORAL REFORM UNTIL JUNE 2006

REF: A. KUWAIT 5016

B. KUWAIT 4740

C. KUWAIT 4406

Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: The National Assembly voted on December 12
in favor of postponing discussion on proposals to reduce the
number of electoral constituencies, a key political reform,
until June 30, 2006. The vote comes amid heated public
debate over the issue, and after the Government came out
publicly in support of a reduction from the current 25
constituencies to 10 (septel). Parliamentarians supporting
the reduction see the postponement as proof the Government
"is not serious about political reform," arguing that with
its 16 ministers the Government could easily muster enough
support to pass any reduction proposal, although there is a
vocal opposition even among some MPs who normally support GOK
proposals. Deputy National Assembly Speaker Meshari
Al-Anjari told Poloff on December 14 that it was highly
unlikely the issue would be addressed seriously before the
2007 parliamentary elections. End summary.

Discussion on Electoral Constituencies Postponed Yet Again
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2. (SBU) During the National Assembly's December 12 session,
32 out of the 59 MPs present voted to postpone discussion on
proposals to reduce the number of electoral constituencies
until June 30, 2006. (Note: There are 66 voting members of
the National Assembly: 50 popularly elected representatives
and 16 government ministers who are appointed by the Prime
Minister and approved by the Amir. The current parliamentary
term ends in July 2006. End note.) The Interior and Defense
Affairs Committee, whose five members are all pro-government
MPs, requested the six-month postponement after it again
failed to meet the deadline for submitting a report on the
issue. The English-daily Kuwait Times reported December 3
that the committee had "failed to hold a single meeting" to
draft the report. The Government submitted a separate
request for a two-month postponement. Members voted on the
postponement by a show of hands; no record was taken of who
voted for or against the request, though liberal, independent
MP Mohammed Jassem Al-Sager claimed ten ministers voted for
the six-month delay.


3. (C) The vote comes amidst heated public debate over the
issue, which is seen by supporters as a key political reform
and a precursor to official Government recognition of
political parties. (Note: While not legally banned,
political parties are not officially recognized by the
Government. End note.) The Government recently stated
publicly its support for ten constituencies, though many
observers question the Government's sincerity in backing the
reform (septel). Discussion on the reform was similarly
postponed during the 2004-2005 parliamentary session after
the Government submitted two separate reduction proposals, a
move some commentators argued, and National Assembly Speaker
Jassem Al-Khorafi suggested, was intended "to confuse the
Assembly" (ref C).

Pro-Reform MPs Claim Government Not Serious About Reform
-------------- --------------


4. (C) MPs supporting the reform reacted strongly to the
postponement. Deputy National Assembly Speaker Meshari
Al-Anjari, who supports a reduction to five constituencies,
told Poloff on December 14 that the vote was a Government
"tactic," which "indicated (it) is not serious about
implementing political reform." He argued the Government
could easily pass any reduction proposal if it was serious
about reform. Saying his comments were "strictly between
us," he specifically blamed Minister of Energy Ahmed Al-Fahd
Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah and Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed
Dhaifallah Sharar for the postponement. Al-Anjari said
Shaykh Fahd told him privately "not to expect any changes (in
the electoral system) before 2011." Al-Anjari predicted the
issue would not be addressed before the 2007 parliamentary
elections.


5. (SBU) Other MPs expressed similar opinions. Liberal,
independent MP Mohammed Jassem Al-Sager said "the outcome of
the vote demonstrated the Government's true position" on the
issue. Independent MP Mohammed Al-Mutair accused the
Government of intentionally seeking to delay discussion on
the reform until the 2007-2008 parliamentary term. He
claimed the vote revealed the Government's insincere support
for the reduction.


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6. (C) Shi,a MP Hassan Jowhar told Poloff on December 11
before the postponement vote that the Government was not only
against the reform, but was actively working to prevent its
passage. This view was echoed by MPs attending a December 11
meeting in support of the reform. Islamist MP Abdullah
Akkash argued that the Government's inconsistency on the
issue proved it did not want the reform. Conservative,
independent MP Marzouk Al-Habini claimed the Government could
pass the reform "in a few hours if they wanted to," but did
not because the reduction would decrease its influence in the
National Assembly. (Comment: Some MPs who do not want to be
seen as opposing this reform may well be quietly relieved
that the system that got them elected remains intact. End
comment.)

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