INAUGURAL SESSION OF KUWAITI PARLIAMENT PROCEEDS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000633

SIPDIS

NEA/ARP, NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KWMN KU
SUBJECT: INAUGURAL SESSION OF KUWAITI PARLIAMENT PROCEEDS
AS EXPECTED, WITH DRAMA AND FIREWORKS

REF: KUWAIT 621

Classified By: Ambassador Deborah K. Jones for reasons 1.4 b and d

Summary and Comment
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1. (C) In the June 1 inaugural session of the Kuwaiti
Parliament, Amir Shaykh Sabah Al Sabah warned in unusually
harsh terms against "chaos and discord," and made clear that
he would not hesitate to dissolve the Parliament again if it
failed to move past the political stalemate that marked the
previous Parliament's tenure. He lamented lost development
opportunities, and promised a "comprehensive development
plan" from the GOK. The Amir also took a shot at the Kuwaiti
media, complaining that it has "exceeded the framework of
responsible freedom." Incumbent Parliament Speaker Jassem
al-Khorafi was re-elected, despite predictions that he would
be challenged for the influential post. Nine Islamist MPs
staged a walkout during the swearing-in of their colleagues,
protesting the composition of the newly-formed Cabinet and
the inclusion of two women as Ministers. Islamic
Constitutional Movement MPs disrupted the swearing-in of
newly appointed female minister Dr. Moudhi Al Homoud,
decrying her unveiled presence as a violation of Shari'a law.
Behind the Amir's harsh tone many Kuwaitis see an implicit
threat to dissolve the Parliament indefinitely, an
extra-constitutional move that would draw protests from some,
but might be applauded by other Kuwaitis who fear the
increasingly Islamist makeup of the body. Tensions will
simmer for now, with only a few sessions before the
Parliament breaks for the summer. GOK-Parliament
confrontations will likely escalate in October, when the
session resumes. End Summary and Comment.

Amir Threatens Parliament, Chides Media
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2. (C) Kuwaiti Amir Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al Sabah convened
the June 1 inaugural session of the Kuwaiti Parliament
(reftel),warning in unusually harsh terms against "chaos and
discord" (fitna) sowed by MPs in the previous Parliament. He
made clear that he would not hesitate to dissolve the
Parliament again if the political stalemate continues. The
Amir called for placing national interests above "all other
considerations," implicitly directing a threat towards MPs
who were elected on May 17 due to their tribal affiliations.
He called on MPs to ensure that "development projects are not
lost in the midst of political strife and crisis," a
reference to the stalemate over Kuwait's long-delayed
Northern oilfields project. He also promised a
"comprehensive development plan," the first of its kind, to
be submitted before the Parliament returns to session in
October (Note: Parliament will meet twice in June and
possibly again in July before recessing until the end of
October. End note.)


3. (C) Sounding a familiar theme, the Amir extolled Kuwait
as a model of democratic openess, but complained that the
media recently, "exceeded the framework of responsible
freedom and the regulations of professionalism and the
requirements of national interest, instigating chaos and
tension at times." PM Shaykh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al Sabah
echoed these themes in his own remarks, stressing the need to
heed the Amir's call for national responsibility and begin a
"new parliamentary era." Like the Amir, the PM stressed
development goals and highlighted work on a new GOK
development plan.

Al-Khorafi Re-Elected as Speaker
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4. (C) By a surprisingly large margin, MPs re-elected Jassem
Al-Khorafi as Speaker of the National Assembly (per protocol,
third in line to the seat of Kuwaiti power) over his fellow
independent Abdullah Al-Roumi. Many had predicted a
tribal/Islamist challenge to the pro-Government Al-Khorafi.
Shaykh Mohammed Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al Sabah, a ruling
family insider and government lobbyist told POLOFF that
Al-Khorafi is now "a power of his own." Al-Khorafi in the
end had the support of both moderates and Islamists. Liberal
MPs supported his opponent in part due to personal grudges
over public financial wranglings between Al-Khorafi and
leading liberal MP Mohammed Al-Sager. The Prime Minister and
Defense Minister, both known to have public feuds with
Al-Khorafi, abstained from voting for the Speakership.

Islamist MPs Protest Cabinet Selection, Women Ministers

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5. (C) Per protocol, after the Amir's opening remarks and
subsequent departure, each MP and Cabinet Member (who vote as
ex officio MPs),in alphabetical order, publicly swore an
oath of allegiance to the Amir and Constitution. To protest
the Prime Minister's Cabinet selection, particularly the
inclusion of two women as Ministers, nine Islamist MPs,
dubbed by the press as "Neo-Islamists," staged a walkout
during the swearing-in of the first Minister to be called
(ironically, an Islamist himself). They returned at the end
of the swearing-in ceremony, and made their pledges without
further disruption.


6. (C) During the swearing-in of the newest woman to be named
minister, Dr. Moudhi Al-Homoud (participant in the January 11
POTUS women's roundtable event),two of the remaining
Islamists, in an attempt to drown out her oath, shouted
objections and protested her unveiled presence as a violation
of Shari'a and Islamic law. Immediately after the completion
of the oaths, an Islamic Constitutional Movement (Kuwaiti
Muslim Brotherhood) MP lodged a formal protest claiming that
the two female ministers should not be allowed onto the
National Assembly floor unless properly attired (or covered)
per dictates of Shari'a. The protest was dismissed by the
acting speaker as the floor was not yet open to such motions.
In the end, the matter was referred to the Parliament's
Islamic guidance committee, where it will not likely
re-emerge.




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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
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Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
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JONES