FREEDOM AGENDA: RUMBLINGS OF ANOTHER PARLIAMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 004430 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NSC FOR RAMCHAND, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR WALLER E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KU FREEDOM AGENDA SUBJECT: FREEDOM AGENDA: RUMBLINGS OF ANOTHER PARLIAMENT DISSOLUTION REF: A. KUWAIT 4418 ¶B. KUWAIT 4289 ¶C. KUWAIT 4206 ¶D. KUWAIT 2871 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C/NF) Summary: Kuwait has been buzzing with rumors over the last two weeks that the Amir may dissolve Parliament again, this time unconstitutionally for a period of up to three years. Many Kuwaitis have come out strongly against such a move, arguing that it would exacerbate existing political tensions and "plunge the country into the vortex of the unknown." While not ruling it out as a possibility, most, though not all, of our contacts suggest that an unconstitutional dissolution is unlikely and the rumors may be intended as a warning to opposition parliamentarians to tone down their criticism of the Government. The Amir and the Prime Minister have commented to visitors recently that the Parliament is difficult to work with, but that they are not surprised by the criticism leveled by legislators and will work with them. On the other hand, the Amir has also noted in recent conversations the necessity for the United States to recognize that democracy cannot be imposed in the region. Our contacts outside the Government largely blame the current political tensions on the Government's weakness and poor choice of Cabinet ministers. They argue that the best solution would be to replace the Cabinet with one more competent and with closer connections to the political blocs in Parliament. If Parliament is dissolved unconstitutionally, some predict the Kuwaiti people and political groups would "react strongly" and "take to the streets." Others, however, note that this so-called "reform" National Assembly is so far focused on narrow self-serving objectives and some personal vendettas against ministers. End summary. Strong Reaction to Rumors of Possible Dissolution -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C/NF) Local press have been buzzing over the past couple of weeks about rumors the Amir might dissolve Parliament again. While the Amir is constitutionally required to call new elections within two months of a dissolution, some observers speculate he could delay elections for up to three years. (Note: Parliament has been dissolved unconstitutionally twice before, the last time in 1986. End note.) A front-page article in the November 5 Arab Times (local English daily) reported that the Government was currently studying the possibility of "suspending (Parliament) for three years and amending Article 4 of the Constitution," which deals with succession. The article quoted "a highly placed source" as saying "the political atmosphere in the country has become unbearable and the continuous threats of MPs to 'grill' ministers are preventing the Government from doing its duty and implementing development projects." The source continued: "MPs should know Kuwait is passing through a dangerous phase and decision-makers won't hesitate to take tough decisions." Separate reports have cited leading opposition MP Ahmed Saadoun's repeated threats to "grill" the Prime Minister as a "red line" the Government will not tolerate crossing. In conversations with visitors lately, the Amir has joked about the difficulty of dealing with parliament but has not hinted at dissolution, although he has noted the need for the U.S. to recognize that it cannot impose democracy on Middle Eastern countries. The Prime Minister has evinced no particular concern about the difficulties with the Parliament, noting to the Ambassador that he has long-time ties to some of the leading oppositionists and knows how to deal with them. ¶3. (SBU) Many Kuwaitis have come out strongly against such a move, arguing that an unconstitutional dissolution would only exacerbate existing political tensions. One editorial warned that an unconstitutional dissolution would "plunge the country into the vortex of the unknown." It went on to say that "the crucial issue before the Government now is battling corruption and personal aggrandizement....An unconstitutional dissolution will increase corruption and the pillaging of public funds will grow worse." The Kuwait Journalists' Syndicate issued a statement November 8, stressing that an unconstitutional dissolution would trigger "sedition" and "destabilize Kuwait." Other columnists called on MPs to moderate their criticism of the Government and give Ministers more time to address their concerns. A few have argued in favor of an unconstitutional dissolution as the only way to resolve political deadlock and move forward on key KUWAIT 00004430 002 OF 003 development projects. A Warning to Parliament? -------------- ¶4. (C/NF) According to several contacts, the Amir openly discussed an unconstitutional dissolution of Parliament in recent meetings with the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce, the Higher Council for the Application of Islamic Shari'a (HCAIS),and Speaker of Parliament Jassem Al-Khorafi. Ahmed Deyain, the former Secretary General of the Kuwait Democratic Forum, told Poloff November 4 that the Amir had also talked about the possibility of creating a second chamber of Parliament and revoking recently-passed electoral reform legislation (ref D). Deyain said he "(did) not rule out the possibility of an unconstitutional dissolution," but that such a move was unlikely. He claimed the leadership lacked the "political will" to dissolve Parliament unconstitutionally, particularly given regional tensions. An unconstitutional dissolution could inflame tensions rather than resolve them, he explained. Deyain suggested the Amir might have "floated" the possibility as a warning to Parliament to be more cooperative and tone down their criticism of the Government. Deyain claimed the Amir's son, Shaykh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmed, told him the Amir had wanted to "frighten" MPs. ¶5. (C/NF) Deyain blamed the Government for the current tensions with Parliament. He said the Government is "weak and does not take initiative, and argued that the "easiest and most reasonable solution" was to replace the current Cabinet with one "capable of reconciling with the political blocs in Parliament." Deyain claimed "80 percent of MPs" want to work with the Government and have nothing to gain from a dissolution, but pressure the Government because of its "ineptness and poor leadership." "If Government change is introduced, things will change," he predicted. If Parliament is dissolved unconstitutionally, Kuwait's political groups "have enough experience to rally around each other and demand the re-instatement of the Parliament," Deyain said. He suggested they could also demand "a more democratic constitution." Parliamentarians Disagree on Probability of Dissolution -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C/NF) In a November 8 meeting, Ahmed Baqer, the Coordinator of the 17-member Islamic Bloc and a former Minister of Justice, downplayed the likelihood of an unconstitutional dissolution, which he said would have "very negative ramifications." He blamed the current political tensions on the Government's weakness and poorly chosen ministers, who did not have "connections" to the political blocs in Parliament. Baqer predicted the Cabinet would be reshuffled and, if that failed to resolve tensions, the entire Cabinet would be replaced before the Amir resorted to dissolving Parliament. Even then, Baqer believed it would be a constitutional dissolution. He claimed the Kuwaiti people and political groups would react "strongly" to an unconstitutional dissolution, "even more than in 1986," and predicted they would "take to the streets," which could lead to "clashes." ¶7. (C/NF) Liberal MP Mishari Al-Anjari, the Coordinator of the 8-member National Action Bloc, told Poloff in a separate meeting November 8 he believed an unconstitutional dissolution was "likely." "The Government cannot confront the current Parliament nor those responsible for corruption," he explained. Al-Anjari added that some MPs had also made "mistakes" by pressuring the Government to forgive loans and offer more benefits to Kuwaitis. Al-Anjari claimed the Amir had told the Chamber of Commerce, the HCAIS, and the Speaker that he wanted to "see Kuwaiti society stable and secure, but due to the current uncooperative political climate, (he) may have no other option than to dissolve Parliament." According to Al-Anjari, the Amir said, "If I am forced to do this, I will do it unconstitutionally." ¶8. (C/NF) Al-Anjari predicted an unconstitutional dissolution would be a "jump in the dark" and could lead to "conflicts." He said the Government would be forced to use state money to "appease the street," contributing to further corruption. Like Baqer, Al-Anjari criticized the weakness of the Government and the composition of the Cabinet. The current ministers "do not have contacts with the (political) blocs" in Parliament, he complained. "The choice of good ministers would ease tensions between Parliament and the Government," Al-Anjari said. He concluded by predicting that KUWAIT 00004430 003 OF 003 "either the Government or Parliament will be short-lived." ********************************************* * 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/ ********************************************* * LeBaron