FREEDOM AGENDA: CABINET APPROVES FIVE CONSTITUENCY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 002821

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NSC FOR RAMCHAND, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS
FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
SUBJECT: FREEDOM AGENDA: CABINET APPROVES FIVE CONSTITUENCY
PROPOSAL; AL-KHORAFI RE-ELECTED AS SPEAKER

REF: A. KUWAIT 2775

B. KUWAIT 2602

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Matthew Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d)


1. (C/NF) Summary and comment: The new Cabinet approved July
11 a draft electoral reform bill and a draft bill to write
off the interest on retirees' loans. Many saw the measures
as a conciliatory move by the Government to repair relations
with Parliament. Jassem Al-Khorafi was re-elected as Speaker
of Parliament during the new assembly's first session on July

12. Some pro-reform activists viewed his victory over the
opposition candidate, Ahmed Al-Saadoun, as a setback for the
pro-reform movement and accused Islamist MPs of making an
under-the-table deal with the Government. Others were more
pragmatic, noting that the pro-reform alliance "was always
fragile" and was ultimately only based on common support for
political reforms. Beyond that, each group is still trying
to protect its own political interests. As one observer
commented, "That's politics." While largely a formality due
to the proximity of the summer recess, elections for
parliamentary committees were swept by pro-reform MPs,
demonstrating their political power when they cooperate.


2. (C/NF) Comment: As many suggested, Al-Khorafi's
re-election was likely the result of a deal made between the
Government, who wanted a sympathetic Speaker, and some
pro-reform MPs, who wanted to obtain more benefits for their
constituents. It also highlights the divisions within the
pro-reform majority in Parliament. Nonetheless, the
Government has made significant concessions to the pro-reform
bloc. The Cabinet's approval of a five constituency proposal
almost guarantees eventual passage of an electoral reform
bill in the near future, which is what pro-reform MPs had
demanded. It also suggests the Government may be more
willing to cooperate with Parliament on passing other
important legislation. End summary and comment.

New Cabinet Tackles Old Issues
--------------


3. (C/NF) In its first meeting on July 11, the new Cabinet
approved a draft bill to reduce the number of electoral
constituencies from 25 to five (see para 9) as had been
demanded by pro-reform members of Parliament (MPs). It also
approved a bill to write off the interest on loans taken out
by retired Kuwaitis against their pensions. The move was
seen by many as a goodwill gesture to pro-reform MPs who made
significant gains in the recent parliamentary elections (ref
B). The Cabinet also approved decrees nominating former
Minister of Energy Shaykh Ahmed Al-Fahd Al-Sabah as the
President of the National Security Bureau, and former
Minister of Cabinet/National Assembly Affairs Mohammed Sharar
as an Advisor to the Amiri Diwan. Both Ministers were
sharply criticized for corruption during the recent elections
and were excluded from the current Cabinet (ref A); their new
positions are of a ministerial rank in terms of protocol.

Al-Khorafi Returns to the Speaker's Seat
--------------


4. (C/NF) Parliament held its first session on July 12.
Jassem Al-Khorafi, a government-leaning, independent MP with
close ties to Amir Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed, was re-elected as
Speaker, beating out Ahmed Al-Saadoun, an outspoken, veteran
opposition MP, 36 to 28; one ballot was left blank. (Note:
Voting was conducted by secret ballot. End note.) During
the recent elections, Al-Khorafi was sharply criticized for
corruption and for supporting the Government. His
re-election drew cries of protest from pro-reform activists
observing the session, but after several minutes of
disruption the session continued smoothly with Al-Khorafi
assuming the Speaker's chair. Dr. Mohammed Al-Bousairi, one
of six members of the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM),
the political arm of the Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood, was
elected as Deputy Speaker. Both positions are elected for
the duration of the 4-year parliamentary term, whereas other
offices and committees in Parliament are elected on an annual
basis.

A Full Agenda before the Summer Recess
--------------


5. (C/NF) Al-Khorafi referred the five constituency and the
pensioners' interest bills passed by the Cabinet to the
appropriate committees, and asked them to draft their reports
"as soon as possible" so Parliament could debate and vote on

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the legislation, possibly in a special session before
recessing for the summer. MP Ali Al-Rashid, who was elected
to the Interior and Defense Affairs Committee, which is
responsible for reviewing the Government's five constituency
proposal, responded that his committee's report would be
ready by July 17. Parliament must also approve the 15 Amiri
decrees issued since the May 21 dissolution. Parliament is
only expected to meet once or twice more before adjourning
for summer recess until October.

Trading Allegations Already?
--------------


6. (C/NF) The reactions of pro-reform activists to
Al-Khorafi's re-election were mixed. Most accused the ICM of
making a deal with the Government in return for supporting
Al-Khorafi as Speaker, noting that the six-vote difference
between Al-Khorafi and Al-Saadoun was equal to the number of
ICM MPs in Parliament and that an ICM MP was elected as
Deputy Speaker. Dana Al-Salem, one of the leaders of the
"orange movement," told Poloff that in some ways she was
happy with the vote because "at least it shows clearly that
they (the ICM) are willing to say one thing (in public) and
then stab us in the back." Another youth activist, Mohammed
Al-Sherki, told Poloff he was "not surprised" by the result
and did not/not view Al-Khorafi's re-election as a major
setback to the reform movement. He said he originally
thought the ICM had supported Al-Khorafi, but that "their
people" told him "they did not do it."


7. (C/NF) Saad Al-Enezi, a Kuwaiti reporter for Al-Jazeera
television, claimed Islamist MPs had been split on the
speakership vote, and some, including several ICM MPs, had
voted for Al-Khorafi. He told Poloff he received an SMS the
night before giving the exact number of votes Al-Khorafi
would receive and it had been "100% correct," giving credence
to his argument that some sort of deal was struck. Asked if
this indicated the liberal-Islamist, pro-reform alliance was
fraying, he responded, "It was always a fragile alliance.
There are many different groups under the pro-reform umbrella
each with their own interests be they familial, tribal,
ideological, or business." Although he predicted these
splits would become openly apparent before long, he was
optimistic that the Parliament would still pass the
Government's electoral reform proposal. "It is only a matter
of time now," he concluded. Commenting on some Islamists'
rumored support for Al-Khorafi, the Head of Parliament's
Registry Department, said succinctly, "That's politics." His
comment perhaps best captures the fact that the pro-reform
alliance is at the end of the day composed of different
groups each looking to further their specific political
interests.

Pro-Reform MPs Sweep Committees
--------------


8. (C/NF) Pro-reform MPs swept the elections for the ten
permanent and thirteen ad hoc committees in Parliament.
Though largely a formality since committee members will be
elected again after the summer recess, the committee
elections demonstrate the weight of the pro-reform majority
in Parliament. For example, the Defense and Interior Affairs
Committee, which has historically been dominated by
pro-Government MPs, was swept by pro-reform MPs. Mohammed
Jassem Al-Sager was re-elected to the Foreign Affairs
Committee. Committees choose a Chairman and Rapporteur
during their first meeting, however, most are unlikely to
even meet before summer recess. Parliament also unanimously
approved a proposal to establish a new Bidoon Affairs
Committee (septel).

The Government's Five Constituency Proposal
--------------


9. (C/NF) According to press reports, the electoral reform
proposal approved by the Cabinet on July 11 is for five
constituencies with ten MPs elected from each constituency.
Under this system, each voter would be able to cast four
votes. The number of voters per constituency is as follows:
(1) 62,108 voters, (2) 38,753 voters, (3) 54,197 voters, (4)
88,454 voters, and (5) 90,231 voters. Despite the objection
of some MPs (primarily pro-Government "service deputies")
that the geographic and demographic distribution of this
proposal is "unfair," it is still likely to be approved by
the majority of MPs. Some suggest Parliament could vote on
the proposal as early as next week.

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