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 KUWAIT 00002821 002 OF 003 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. ********************************************* * KUWAIT 00002821 003 OF 003 For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * TUELLER