Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KUWAIT5306
2005-12-31 14:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
FREEDOM AGENDA: LACK OF QUORUM IN PARLIAMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO0468 PP RUEHDE DE RUEHKU #5306 3651400 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 311400Z DEC 05 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2372 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1134 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0939
UNCLAS KUWAIT 005306
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FREEDOM AGENDA
SUBJECT: FREEDOM AGENDA: LACK OF QUORUM IN PARLIAMENT
STYMIES DISCUSSION OF NEW PRESS LAW
REF: A. KUWAIT 5286
B. KUWAIT 5136
C. KUWAIT 5083 AND PREVIOUS
UNCLAS KUWAIT 005306
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FREEDOM AGENDA
SUBJECT: FREEDOM AGENDA: LACK OF QUORUM IN PARLIAMENT
STYMIES DISCUSSION OF NEW PRESS LAW
REF: A. KUWAIT 5286
B. KUWAIT 5136
C. KUWAIT 5083 AND PREVIOUS
1. (SBU) The last three National Assembly sessions of 2005
epitomized the obstacles to passage of key legislation on the
Assembly agenda, such as the revised press law. (Note: The
current parliamentary term began on October 17 and ends in
July 2006. End note.) During its December 26 session,
Parliament was packed for the discussion of a bill recently
approved by the Assembly but rejected by the Government to
write off the interest on pensioners' loans, just one of many
efforts by parliamentarians (MPs) to obtain more Government
benefits for their constituents. When MPs failed by one vote
to get the two-thirds majority necessary to override the
Government's veto, a heated debate broke out and MPs demanded
an unconstitutional re-vote. Although there were other
important issues on the agenda, the three-hour debate
dominated the session. When MPs finally got around to
discussing the new press and publications law, the Assembly
emptied; no more than nine MPs were present at any one time
for the rest of the session. (Note: There are 50 elected MPs
and 16 Ministers, who are ex officio MPs. End note.)
2. (SBU) The December 27 session was similarly unproductive.
The session was delayed twice until enough members arrived -
27 MPs and five Ministers - to achieve quorum (33 MPs).
Although the Assembly discussed 27 of the press law's 35
articles, there were not enough MPs present in the hall to
vote on any one of the articles. Discussion was scheduled to
continue on December 28, but the session was adjourned due to
lack of quorum. The National Assembly is scheduled to vote
on the articles during its next session on January 23.
(Note: The Assembly meets four to five times a month. End
note.)
3. (SBU) Comment: The lack of quorum for the discussion of
the press law demonstrates many parliamentarians' narrow
focus on constituent benefits, rather than on broader
political and economic reforms, and highlights some of the
difficulties in getting key reform legislation passed by the
Assembly. End comment.
*********************************************
Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
You can also access this site through the
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website
*********************************************
LeBaron
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FREEDOM AGENDA
SUBJECT: FREEDOM AGENDA: LACK OF QUORUM IN PARLIAMENT
STYMIES DISCUSSION OF NEW PRESS LAW
REF: A. KUWAIT 5286
B. KUWAIT 5136
C. KUWAIT 5083 AND PREVIOUS
1. (SBU) The last three National Assembly sessions of 2005
epitomized the obstacles to passage of key legislation on the
Assembly agenda, such as the revised press law. (Note: The
current parliamentary term began on October 17 and ends in
July 2006. End note.) During its December 26 session,
Parliament was packed for the discussion of a bill recently
approved by the Assembly but rejected by the Government to
write off the interest on pensioners' loans, just one of many
efforts by parliamentarians (MPs) to obtain more Government
benefits for their constituents. When MPs failed by one vote
to get the two-thirds majority necessary to override the
Government's veto, a heated debate broke out and MPs demanded
an unconstitutional re-vote. Although there were other
important issues on the agenda, the three-hour debate
dominated the session. When MPs finally got around to
discussing the new press and publications law, the Assembly
emptied; no more than nine MPs were present at any one time
for the rest of the session. (Note: There are 50 elected MPs
and 16 Ministers, who are ex officio MPs. End note.)
2. (SBU) The December 27 session was similarly unproductive.
The session was delayed twice until enough members arrived -
27 MPs and five Ministers - to achieve quorum (33 MPs).
Although the Assembly discussed 27 of the press law's 35
articles, there were not enough MPs present in the hall to
vote on any one of the articles. Discussion was scheduled to
continue on December 28, but the session was adjourned due to
lack of quorum. The National Assembly is scheduled to vote
on the articles during its next session on January 23.
(Note: The Assembly meets four to five times a month. End
note.)
3. (SBU) Comment: The lack of quorum for the discussion of
the press law demonstrates many parliamentarians' narrow
focus on constituent benefits, rather than on broader
political and economic reforms, and highlights some of the
difficulties in getting key reform legislation passed by the
Assembly. End comment.
*********************************************
Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
You can also access this site through the
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website
*********************************************
LeBaron