AMIR RECONVENES KUWAITI NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: NO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001032 SIPDIS NEA/ARP, NEA/RA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KU SUBJECT: AMIR RECONVENES KUWAITI NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: NO FIREWORKS...YET REF: KUWAIT 1014 Classified By: Political Counselor Pete O'Donohue for reasons 1.4 b and d Amir Repeats Calls for National Unity, PM shows greater vigor -------------- -------------- ¶1. (C) Ending the summer hiatus, Kuwaiti Amir Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah reconvened the Kuwaiti National Assembly on October 27, with Ambassador and other COMs and Kuwaiti dignitaries present. In an unremarkable address to Parliament, the Amir pressed for national unity and cooperation between the legislative and executive branches and for support for the national development plan. Following the Amir's address, both PM Shaykh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al Sabah and Parliamentary Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi more vigorously laid out the issues lying ahead for the Parliament -- consumer debt forgiveness, H1N1, the economic downturn, and upgrading regional relations -- with the PM in particular delivering a surprisingly articulate and robust encapsulation of the government's program and agenda. (Speech transcripts available at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it). The Dog(s) That Didn't Bark -------------- ¶2. (C) Despite Islamist deputies publicly denouncing the fact that two of the newly elected female parliamentarians refuse to wear the hijab and hence are arguably in violation of the requirement that parliamentarians obey Shari'a law (see reftel),no MPs took issue with the fact that neither Rola Dashti nor Aseel Al-Awadhi (nor, for that matter, Minister of Education Dr. Moudhi Al-Homoud) covered for the opening session. Indeed much of the Kuwaiti press October 28 prominently featured front-page pictures of an uncovered Dashti at the Parliamentary podium. Committee Reassignments Relatively Anti-Climactic -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Following the statements by the Amir, Speaker and PM, the MPs settled down to the routine business of selecting MPs for committees. While this process was conducted in a generally calm and orderly fashion, there were glimpses of some of the underlying issues that are widely expected to render this session a turbulent one. (Note: Light public attendance at the session indicated that the day would be occupied with dull committee procedural reorganization. End note.) The GOK utilized its 16 ministers' (ex-officio MPs) votes to edge Islamists from a number of committees, notably Cultural, Education and Guidance Affairs and Foreign Affairs. In a conciliatory gesture to Islamists, Communications Minister (and tribal Islamist) Mohammad Al-Busairi offered to have ministers abstain from ad hoc committee votes so as not to appear to be bullying the Islamists. This offer was rejected by conservatives, who characterized it as patronizing. Ultimately at the end of the day, most committee assignments resulted in a relative balance in factions. Parliament's four new female MPs secured broad inclusion on several committees, including three seats on the permanent committee for Health, Social and Labor Affairs, and four of five seats in the ad hoc Women and Family Affairs committee. (For a complete rundown of committees, please visit http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it). Comment: Kitchen Affairs -------------- ¶4. (C) As in other parliamentary systems, Kuwait's parliamentary committees, generally referred to as the National Assembly's "kitchen," review draft bills prior to referral to the National Assembly for voting. Their influence derives primarily from their ability to stall bills and promote self-serving agendas. (Note: As an example, the hot topic issue of naturalization prompted tribalists and Islamists to press heavily for inclusion on the Interior and Defense Committee, which holds the reins on the provision of nationality to the thousands of "bidoon" (stateless) who potentially provide political support to conservative politicians. End note.) The continual gridlock that defines Parliament's relationship with the government takes place, not in the "kitchen" but on the National Assembly floor, where even one MP's targeting of a minister for interpellation can push the Amir to consider dissolution. Thus, while the opening session of Parliament was unmarred by fireworks, the real test is yet to come. End comment. KUWAIT 00001032 002 OF 002 ********************************************* ********* For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it ********************************************* ********* JONES