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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05KUWAIT1406 |
PARLIAMENT VS. THE PRIME MINISTER: GRILLING FORCES [...] (C) Summary and Comment: Caving in to pressures heightened by the grilling and proffered resignation of Health Minister Dr. Mohammed Al-Jarallah on April 2, the Government this week replaced two Ministers, and pondered a third, all in four days. These actions were followed by a statement issu [...] |
2005-04-06 16:48:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | KISL KDEM PREL KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 05KUWAIT1449 |
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER, PROMINENT MP DOWNPLAY [...] (C) Summary and Comment: Responding to a week of press speculation that Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah would seek the dissolution of the National Assembly in response to repeated ministerial grillings, National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi told local dailies April 9 that [...] |
2005-04-11 04:00:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV PREL KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 05KUWAIT1468 |
ASSEMBLY FOREIGN RELATIONS CHAIR ON IRAQ'S [...] (C) Summary: Senior Advisor and Coordinator for Iraq Policy, Ambassador Richard Jones, met with Chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Relations Committee, MP Mohammed Jassem Al-Sager on April 9. Ambassador Jones, who had just returned from Iraq, briefed the MP on the formation of the P [...] |
2005-04-12 05:32:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV PHUM PREL EAID KU IZ KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 05KUWAIT2041 |
GOK UPS ANTE ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS; REQUESTS IMMEDIATE [...] (U) The GOK surprised many during the May 16 session of the National Assembly in what was expected to be a re-vote on the proposed measure to grant women political rights at the Municipal Council level. Bypassing any discussion on municipal-level rights for women, the GOK introduced a motion, [...] |
2005-05-16 13:09:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL PGOV KWMN KDEM KU WOMEN POLITICAL RIGHTS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 05KUWAIT2064 |
WELL WORTH THE WAIT: KUWAITI WOMEN GAIN FULL [...] After six hours of debate, the National Assembly passed May 16 an amendment to Article 35 of the election law granting Kuwaiti women full political rights, including voting in parliamentary elections and running for national office starting in 2007, the date of the next elections. Of the 59 M [...] |
2005-05-16 17:00:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL PGOV KWMN KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WOMEN POLITICAL RIGHTS |
| 05KUWAIT2173 |
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SURPRISED BY VOTE ON WOMEN'S [...] (C) Summary: During a May 21 meeting, Speaker of Parliament Al-Khorafi told the Ambassador the May 16 vote on women's political rights was a difficult day and he had not been confident legislation permitting their participation would pass. He named the Prime Minister as the reason for the [...] |
2005-05-22 14:41:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWMN ECON EAID IZ KU EPTE WOMEN POLITICAL RIGHTS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 05KUWAIT2485 |
AMBASSADOR CRITICIZED FOR REITERATING U.S. [...] (C) Summary and Comment: Led by National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi, a few Kuwaiti political figures have criticized the Ambassador's May 25 speech to the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense Command and Staff College. The public release of the speech, in which the Ambassador reiterated U.S. [...] |
2005-06-06 12:24:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PARM KU IR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY KUWAIT IRAN RELATIONS |
| 05KUWAIT3363 |
SPECIAL PARLIAMENTARY SESSION: NO QUORUM, BUT [...] (U) An extraordinary session of Parliament held July 30 at the written request of 36 Members of Parliament (MPs) failed to reach the required quorum of 33 MPs/Ministers present. An unusual request while Parliament is not in session and many MPs are abroad on vacation, the extraordinary sess [...] |
2005-07-30 13:44:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 05KUWAIT3590 |
ACTING SPEAKER INFORMS AMBASSADOR NATIONAL [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador met with MP Mohammed Jassem Al-Sager, Acting National Assembly Speaker, August 9 to discuss legislation that would be addressed when the National Assembly reconvened October 17. Al-Sager predicted the National Assembly would approve Project Kuwait legislation for [...] |
2005-08-10 13:57:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER EPET KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 05KUWAIT4352 |
FREEDOM AGENDA: MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT SPEAK OUT ON [...] (C) Summary and comment: During his nightly courtesy visits to diwaniyas during Ramadan, which began October 4, the Ambassador has been asking National Assembly members (MPs) and political activists their views on reducing the number of electoral districts, a key component of political refor [...] |
2005-10-10 12:43:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR KDEM KISL KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 05KUWAIT4406 |
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ON SUCCESSION, PROJECT [...] (C) Summary/Comment: The Ambassador met October 12 with National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi for a periodic update on a range of issues. The speaker quickly turned to recent dispute within the ruling family (reftel). Al-Khorafi said the Amir's strong public support for the Prime Minis [...] |
2005-10-13 16:42:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM IZ KU SUCCESSION NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FREEDOM AGENDA |
| 05KUWAIT4438 |
LEADING MP "SCARED TO DEATH" ABOUT LEADERSHIP [...] (C) Summary and comment: The Ambassador met October 15 with Mohammed Jassem Al-Sager, a National Assembly member (MP) and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Commenting on the recent ruling family spat over the country's future leadership (reftels), sparked by National Guard Chief Shay [...] |
2005-10-16 07:31:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SUCCESSION FREEDOM AGENDA |
| 05KUWAIT4460 |
FREEDOM AGENDA: GOK FORMS MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE TO [...] (SBU) The GOK has formed a ministerial-level committee to "study" proposals to reduce the number of electoral districts from 25 to 10, or fewer, and to register voters based on their civil identification numbers. The six-person committee is headed by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior [...] |
2005-10-17 15:55:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KU PDEM FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 05KUWAIT4480 |
AMID FLURRY OF RUMORS ABOUT SUCCESSION, PM OPENS [...] (SBU) Summary: Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah opened the National Assembly October 17, delivering the Government speech on behalf of the Amir, who was notably absent from the protocolary duty. The session comes amid a flurry of rumors that Shaykh Sabah will replace th [...] |
2005-10-18 12:11:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR KDEM KU SUCCESSION NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 05KUWAIT5306 |
FREEDOM AGENDA: LACK OF QUORUM IN PARLIAMENT [...] (SBU) The last three National Assembly sessions of 2005 epitomized the obstacles to passage of key legislation on the Assembly agenda, such as the revised press law. (Note: The current parliamentary term began on October 17 and ends in July 2006. End note.) During its December 26 session, [...] |
2005-12-31 14:00:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL SOCI KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 05KUWAIT651 |
KUWAIT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS AGREE WITH GOK ON [...] (C) Summary and Comment: During January and February, Ambassador met with five prominent MPs and discussed Iraqi debt relief. Most of the MPs were supportive of the GOK's efforts to offer comparable treatment to the Paris Club decision to forgive 80% of Iraqi debts, but voiced a need to show [...] |
2005-02-14 09:27:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID ECON KU IZ KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 05KUWAIT991 |
KUWAITI MP SAYS WOMEN WILL VOTE, ARTICLE 98 TO [...] (C) Summary: Kuwaiti MP Mohammed Jassem Al-Sagr, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed his tempered optimism that the National Assembly will approve the GOK's bill allowing women's suffrage. He added, however, that the GOK is nervous to pressure undecided MPs. Al-Sagr also predicte [...] |
2005-03-09 13:55:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KWMN PARM LE KU WOMEN POLITICAL RIGHTS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT1317 |
FREEDOM AGENDA: PARLIAMENT POSTPONES DISCUSSION OF [...] (U) On April 17, Parliament unanimously approved a Government motion to postpone discussion on proposals to reduce the number of electoral constituencies, a key political reform, until May 15. Parliament previously voted to discuss the proposals on April 17 (ref D), but agreed to the postpon [...] |
2006-04-17 13:42:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT1744 |
FREEDOM AGENDA: KUWAIT'S ORANGE REVOLUTION: [...] (U) In a much-anticipated May 15 Parliament session, the Government introduced a bill to reduce the number of electoral constituencies from 25 to ten. Members of the Independent (pro-Government) bloc then submitted a motion to refer the bill to the Constitutional Court to examine its constit [...] |
2006-05-15 14:54:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KU FREEDOM AGENGA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT1773 |
FREEDOM AGENDA: BETWEEN DISSOLUTION AND [...] (C) Summary: On May 16, Parliament approved by a simple majority a motion to refer the Government's draft law on constituency reform to the Constitutional Court for review. The session was boycotted by 29 MPs who support five constituencies and strongly criticize the Government for submitting [...] |
2006-05-16 14:04:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KDEM KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT1789 |
FREEDOM AGENDA: THE GOVERNMENT KEEPS ITS COOL AS PRESSURE [...] (U) Debate over constituency reform continues with the Government requesting on May 17 the convening of a special National Assembly session on May 22 to discuss the draft law to reduce the number of electoral constituencies from 25 to ten. Post contacts report that the Government is considerin [...] |
2006-05-17 14:13:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT1832 |
COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER EXPELLED FROM ISLAMIST [...] No summary [...] |
2006-05-21 18:00:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT1844 |
FREEDOM AGENDA: PARLIAMENT DISSOLUTION PRESENTS [...] (C) Summary and Comment: Elections for a new National Assembly will take place on June 29, almost certainly on the basis of the status quo 25 constituencies. Reformers who rejected a compromise offer of 10 constituencies in order to hold out for their proposed 5 constituency model, will now [...] |
2006-05-22 14:05:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT1852 |
FREEDOM AGENDA: REACTIONS TO PARLIAMENT DISSOLUTION [...] (U) Summary: The Amir's May 21 decision to dissolve Parliament has Kuwaitis focused on the prospects for meaningful political reform and the impact of women voting in national elections for the first time. A number of public figures have already declared their intent to run for office, among [...] |
2006-05-22 17:36:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM PHUM KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT1915 |
FREEDOM AGENDA: RACING THE CLOCK TO PREPARE FOR KUWAIT'S [...] Summary: Debate over the Amir's May 21 decision to dissolve Parliament is already fading as focus shifts to the June 29 parliamentary elections. Though candidate registration begins officially May 25, many prospective candidates have already launched their campaigns. According to one estimat [...] |
2006-05-24 16:30:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT2026 |
FREEDOM AGENDA - KUWAIT ELECTION UPDATE: 24 WOMEN [...] (C) Summary: A total of 244 candidates, including 24 women, have registered so far for the June 29 parliamentary elections. Kuwaiti women, participating in national elections for the first time in Kuwait's history, have responded with enthusiasm. Women account for 194,910 of Kuwait's 340,24 [...] |
2006-05-31 18:04:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KDEM KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT2775 |
FAMILIAR FACES IN KUWAIT'S NEW CABINET; TWO [...] (C/NF) Amir Shaykh Sabah approved July 10 the new Cabinet proposed by Prime Minister Shaykh Nasser Mohammed Al-Sabah. As is customary, the previous Cabinet resigned July 1 after the parliamentary elections (ref A). The new 16-member Cabinet, the 23rd since Kuwait gained independence in 1962, [...] |
2006-07-10 13:19:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT2821 |
FREEDOM AGENDA: CABINET APPROVES FIVE CONSTITUENCY [...] (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 Sp [...] |
2006-07-12 15:39:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT2822 |
PARLIAMENT ESTABLISHES COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS THE [...] (U) In its inaugural session on July 12, Kuwait's new Parliament voted unanimously to establish a committee for dealing with the over 100,000 "Bidoon" -- Arabs with no legal documentation proving their citizenship -- living in Kuwait. The proposal for the committee was initiated by MP Khudair [...] |
2006-07-12 15:44:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT2871 |
FREEDOM AGENDA: REFORMERS WIN MAJOR VICTORY AS [...] (C/NF) Summary and comment: Parliament voted July 17 to reduce the number of electoral constituencies from 25 to five. The vote comes after months of contentious debate on the issue, which culminated in the Amir's dissolution of Parliament on May 21. According to one liberal political analy [...] |
2006-07-17 14:46:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KDEM KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT2896 |
PARLIAMENT APPROVES NEW PUBLIC AND AMIRI BUDGETS [...] (U) On July 18, Parliament held its final session before recessing for the summer. The assembly is scheduled to reconvene on October 30. During the session, Parliament voted 39 to 10, with two abstentions, in favor of the 2006-2007 public budget previously approved by the Cabinet. The 10.86 [...] |
2006-07-19 11:58:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV EFIN KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT2929 |
IT PAYS TO BE AN MP: PARLIAMENTARIANS' ATTRACTIVE [...] In addition to a monthly salary of 2,300 KD ($7,950), the fifty elected Members of Kuwait's Parliament receive a number of other lucrative benefits. Each MP is provided with a new Ford or Lincoln to drive while serving in Parliament; the Speaker and Deputy Speaker receive a new vehicle worth [...] |
2006-07-22 13:56:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT3432 |
GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE NEW 4-YEAR AGENDA NEXT [...] (C/NF) The new Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs, Dr. Ismail Al-Shatti, told the Ambassador August 22 that the Government would present a new four-year agenda during the next legislative term. (Note: Parliament i [...] |
2006-08-23 07:41:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV ECON PINR KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT3756 |
AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, REGIONAL [...] (C/NF) Summary: Acting National Assembly Speaker and Islamic Constitutional Movement MP Mohammed al-Bousairi told Ambassador September 17 that opposition MPs are ready to move ahead with their agenda, but need to look for pragmatic ways to work with the GOK. Opposition representatives are now [...] |
2006-09-19 12:20:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL IZ IR KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT3826 |
AFFILIATIONS OF THE 2006-2010 PARLIAMENT [...] (SBU) Summary: Campaigning on a pro-reform, anti-corruption platform, opposition candidates won a two-seat majority in the June 2006 parliamentary elections. Parliamentarians (MPs) have since organized themselves into blocs, which serve as a means for coordinating on a common legislative agen [...] |
2006-09-24 12:14:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT3984 |
ISLAMIST MPS MANEUVER TO GARNER FEMALE [...] (SBU) Islamist parliamentarians (MPs) have drafted a proposal detailing 32 measures they believe should be taken to ensure more equal treatment of Kuwaiti men and women, the Arab Times (local English daily) reported October 3. The measures include giving Kuwaiti women the same social, income [...] |
2006-10-04 10:21:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KISL KU ISLAMISTS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT4205 |
SPLITS EMERGING IN PARLIAMENT'S 17-MEMBER ISLAMIC [...] (C/NF) Summary and comment: Splits within the 17-member Islamic Bloc have recently surfaced. The tensions are largely between independent Islamists and those affiliated with a political association outside Parliament. While the two groups agree on fundamental issues, they differ over propos [...] |
2006-10-23 06:18:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KISL KDEM KU ISLAMISTS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT4206 |
FREEDOM AGENDA: OPPOSITION GROUPS IN PARLIAMENT [...] (C/NF) Summary: The three opposition groups in Parliament -- the Islamic Bloc (17 MPs), the Popular Action Bloc (9 MPs), and the National Action Bloc (8 MPs) -- announced the formation of a new, 34-member Reform Bloc, culminating weeks of meetings between the groups. They also agreed on a com [...] |
2006-10-23 06:22:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KDEM KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT4289 |
FREEDOM AGENDA: PARLIAMENT RECONVENES; REFORM BLOC [...] (SBU) Summary: Parliament reconvened October 30 amid rising tensions between opposition MPs and the Government. In their customary speeches, the Amir, Prime Minister, and Speaker called for cooperation, development, and "national unity." The Prime Minister also presented details of the Gover [...] |
2006-10-31 14:21:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT4665 |
FEELING THE HEAT, INFORMATION MINISTER RESIGNS [...] (SBU) According to local media, Minister of Information Mohammed Al-Sanousi has submitted his resignation rather than subject himself to an intense parliamentary questioning session, commonly referred to in Kuwait as a "grilling," which was scheduled to take place on December 18. The grillin [...] |
2006-12-17 13:12:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM KPAO KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT4682 |
PARLIAMENT VOTES 39-20 AGAINST WRITING OFF PRIVATE [...] (C/NF) Summary and comment: The Kuwaiti Parliament voted December 19 against a controversial proposal to write off citizens' private loans at an estimated cost to the government of $27 billion. The proposal was strongly supported by tribal parliamentarians, dividing the three opposition bloc [...] |
2006-12-20 06:42:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV EAID ECON KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT475 |
CORRECTED COPY -- AMIR APPROVES NEW CABINET: SHI'A [...] (C) Summary: Amir Shaykh Sabah approved on February 9 a new Cabinet, which was particularly notable for the appointment of a second Shi'a minister and one of the leaders of the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM), the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Kuwait. The appointments like [...] |
2006-02-11 07:48:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT527 |
CABINET MINISTER OUTLINES GOVERNMENT PRIORITIES AS [...] (C) The Ambassador met on February 14 with Mohammed Dhaifallah Sharar to congratulate him on his re-appointment as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs. Confirming what local media and post contacts have reported, S [...] |
2006-02-14 09:16:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT585 |
FREEDOM AGENDA: PM OUTLINES GOK PRIORITIES AS NEW [...] (U) In a February 20 speech to the National Assembly following the swearing in of the new Cabinet, Prime Minister Shaykh Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah outlined the Government's priorities, which included approval of the Press and Publications Law, Project Kuwait, and amendment of the elec [...] |
2006-02-21 05:27:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT635 |
FREEDOM AGENDA: PARLIAMENT REVISES DATE FOR [...] (U) During its February 21 session, Parliament approved a motion to advance the date for debate of an Interior and Defenses Affairs Committee proposal to reduce the number of electoral constituencies to April 17 from June 30 as previously agreed (reftel). Initially, the Government opposed t [...] |
2006-02-23 11:35:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KU PGOV FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT636 |
FREEDOM AGENDA: PARLIAMENT REVISES DATE FOR DEBATING [...] (U) During its February 21 session, Parliament approved a motion to advance the date for debate of an Interior and Defense Affairs Committee proposal to reduce the number of electoral constituencies to April 17 from June 30 as previously agreed (reftel). Initially, the Government opposed the [...] |
2006-02-25 07:16:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT891 |
FREEDOM AGENDA - ELECTORAL REFORM PART I OF III: [...] (SBU) Summary and comment: This is the first in a series of three cables on electoral reform in Kuwait. Debate over proposals to reduce the number of electoral constituencies, a key political reform, continues to dominate political discussion in Kuwait. Reducing the number of constituencies [...] |
2006-03-15 14:02:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT892 |
FREEDOM AGENDA - ELECTORAL REFORM PART II OF III: [...] (SBU) Summary and comment: This is the second in a series of three cables on electoral reform in Kuwait. A majority of Kuwaitis support reducing the number of electoral districts from the current 25 to 10, or fewer; however, there is still an influential minority opposing the reform. The mos [...] |
2006-03-15 14:09:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 06KUWAIT893 |
FREEDOM AGENDA - ELECTORAL REFORM PART III OF III: [...] (C) Despite many Government officials' public and private support for reducing the number of electoral constituencies (refs A and C), some question the Government's seriousness in supporting this key political reform. During a March 12 meeting, Issam Al-Dabbous, a Government-leaning MP who se [...] |
2006-03-15 14:15:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EIND KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT1026 |
OPPOSITION MPS SCORE VICTORY AS OIL AND [...] (SBU) Minister of Oil Shaykh Ali Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah and Minister of Communications/National Assembly Affairs Shireeda Al-Mousharji resigned from Cabinet June 30, only five days after Al-Jarrah was subjected to nine hours of questioning by opposition parliamentarians (reftel). Facing a no conf [...] |
2007-06-30 14:23:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EPET ECPS KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT1473 |
AMIR MAKES IMPASSIONED APPEAL FOR COOPERATION IN [...] (U) Amir Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al Sabah appealed to the National Assembly and the media on October 3 to end the bickering and partisan sniping that has dominated Kuwaiti politics since the Amir assumed power in January 2006. In a televised address to the nation on the occasion of the final [...] |
2007-10-04 13:58:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PREL KPAO |
| 07KUWAIT1562 |
GOVERNMENT REMOVES CONTROVERSIAL MINISTERS IN NEW [...] (C) On October 28, the Kuwaiti Government announced the formation of a new 16-person cabinet. The new ministers took the oath of office before the Amir earlier the same day and assumed their new positions immediately. Seven ministers, including FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Al Sabah and Prime Mini [...] |
2007-10-29 09:58:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT1573 |
MPS ATTACK GOVERNMENT DURING OPENING SESSION OF [...] (SBU) Parliament began its 2007-08 session on October 30 amid great tension. MPs ignored the Amir and Prime Minister's opening speeches, which at times warned and at other times pleaded with the Parliament to de-escalate the conflict with the Government and give the recently reformed cabine [...] |
2007-11-01 13:18:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT1590 |
OIL MINISTER RESIGNS AS GOVERNMENT TRIES TO DEFUSE [...] (C) Summary: Prime Minister Shaykh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al Sabah accepted the resignation of Oil Minister Bader Al-Humaidhi on November 5. The resignation should end the state of tension between the Government and Parliament in the short term, but the ultimate sources of contention between t [...] |
2007-11-05 15:06:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT1760 |
PARLIAMENTARY CRISIS CONTINUES - ASSEMBLY WILL [...] (C) SUMMARY: On December 24, Islamist MP Saad Al-Shraye filed a motion to "grill" Minister of Education (and the only remaining female minister) Nouriya Al-Sabeeh. The grilling comes in response to a well-publicized sexual assault at a Kuwaiti primary school, but is more accurately a reflectio [...] |
2007-12-27 15:40:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR SOCI KISL KWMN KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT195 |
PARLIAMENT UNLIKELY TO PASS NO CONFIDENCE MOTION [...] (C) Summary: Islamist MP Khudair Al-Enezi told Poloffs that a no confidence motion on the Minister of Health was likely to be submitted after his February 19 grilling, but was unlikely to pass. Al-Enezi said that while he personally opposed the grilling, he would support it in Parliament as [...] |
2007-02-13 10:35:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KISL KPAL KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT258 |
MPS SUBMIT NO CONFIDENCE MOTION ON HEALTH MINISTER [...] (SBU) Shaykh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Minister of Health and the Amir's nephew, was brought before Parliament February 19 and questioned for ten hours on alleged corruption and mismanagement in his ministry and on the overall deterioration of health services in the countr [...] |
2007-02-20 14:32:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT292 |
CABINET RESHUFFLE LIKELY PRIOR TO MARCH 5 NO [...] (C) Our contacts almost unanimously agree that there will be a Cabinet reshuffle prior to the March 5 no confidence vote on Minister of Health Shaykh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah. The Minister, who is also the Amir's nephew, was brought before Parliament February 19 for questioning over [...] |
2007-02-28 14:06:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT317 |
KUWAIT CABINET RESIGNS UNDER PRESSURE FROM [...] (SBU) Kuwait's Cabinet resigned en masse March 4 on the eve of a scheduled parliamentary vote of no confidence on Health Minister Shaykh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Sabah. The Cabinet, the 23rd since Kuwait gained independence in 1961, lasted only eight months. The Amir will now begin the customary c [...] |
2007-03-04 13:31:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FREEDOM AGENDA |
| 07KUWAIT318 |
FIVE MPS SUBMIT LEGISLATION TO BAN ALL CONTACTS [...] (SBU) Five parliamentarians - two Shi'a Islamists, two Sunni Islamists, and one populist - submitted draft legislation March 3 calling for a complete ban on all Kuwaiti interaction, both official and unofficial, with "the Zionist entity" (i.e. Israel). The bill "seeks to prohibit government [...] |
2007-03-04 13:43:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV KPAL IS KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT32 |
PARLIAMENT'S OPPOSITION ALLIANCE CRACKS AS POPULAR [...] (SBU) Parliament's nine-member Popular Action Bloc announced January 7 its withdrawal from the 34-member Reform Bloc formed last October (ref B). The other two opposition blocs, the liberal National Action Bloc (8 MPs) and the Islamic Bloc (17 MPs), will continue to cooperate formally within [...] |
2007-01-09 14:39:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT366 |
TRIBAL ISLAMISTS FORM NEW GROUPING WITHIN [...] (U) Six tribal Islamist parliamentarians announced March 11 the formation of a new grouping within the 17-member Islamic Bloc. Abdullah Akkash, the Coordinator of the still unnamed grouping, said it would operate in a manner similar to the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM) and the Salafi [...] |
2007-03-12 11:49:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KISL KU ISLAMISTS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT430 |
NEW CABINET FORMED: SIX NEW MINISTERS, TWO WOMEN, [...] (C) Summary and comment: After three weeks of consultations, the Prime Minister announced March 25 the formation of a new Cabinet, which includes six new ministers and, for the first time in Kuwait's history, two women. The Cabinet reshuffle is unlikely to affect significantly any key U.S.-K [...] |
2007-03-26 13:21:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KISL KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT447 |
INCREASING PESSIMISM ABOUT NEW CABINET, LEADERSHIP [...] (C) Summary: Reactions to the new Cabinet have been muted, an indication of Kuwaitis' frustration with the political leadership in both the government and Parliament. Few Kuwaitis expect the new Cabinet to resolve the tensions that characterized the previous government's relations with Parlia [...] |
2007-03-28 14:24:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT473 |
CABINET SWORN IN DESPITE ISLAMISTS' OBJECTIONS TO [...] (SBU) Members of the new Cabinet were sworn in before Parliament April 2 despite two tribal Islamists' objections to Nouriyah Al-Sabih, the new Education Minister and a liberal, appearing in the Assembly hall without a head scarf. When Al-Sabih began to take the parliamentary oath of office, [...] |
2007-04-03 13:10:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KWMN KISL KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ISLAMISTS |
| 07KUWAIT514 |
MPS ASK FOR INFO ON KUWAIT'S PREPAREDNESS FOR A [...] (SBU) Responding to recent speculations in local press about an imminent U.S. attack on Iran (ref B), several parliamentarians (MPs) submitted questions to the Interior Minister asking him to outline the steps Kuwait has taken to prepare for such a possibility. Independent, tribal MP Saadoun [...] |
2007-04-09 13:44:00 | Embassy Kuwait | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL IR KU KUWAIT IRAN RELATIONS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT56 |
PARLIAMENT TO GRILL RULING FAMILY MINISTER [...] (SBU) On January 17, three Members of Parliament (MPs) formally submitted a request to question Minister of Health Shaykh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah over procedural irregularities in approving Kuwaitis for medical treatment abroad, alleged "administrative violations" in the min [...] |
2007-01-17 13:51:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FREEDOM AGENDA |
| 07KUWAIT566 |
AMIR'S ATTEMPT TO QUELL RULING FAMILY DISPUTES [...] (SBU) Summary and comment: In a rare meeting of senior Al-Sabah family members April 14, Amir Shaykh Sabah issued a strong warning not to air intra-ruling family rivalries in public via proxies and stressed that he had no intention to dissolve Parliament or amend the constitution. The Crown [...] |
2007-04-16 14:13:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KDEM KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT836 |
TEMPERATURES RISE AS OPPOSITION MPS TARGET OIL [...] (C/NF) Summary: Opposition MPs have demanded the resignation of Oil Minister Shaykh Ali Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah and are threatening to question him in Parliament for defending his cousin and former Oil/Finance Minister Shaykh Ali Al-Khalifa Al-Sabah, one of five former Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (K [...] |
2007-05-29 12:52:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV EPET KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT919 |
PARLIAMENT FORCES OIL MINISTER TO TESTIFY ON [...] (U) Three opposition MPs formally submitted on June 10 a request to "grill" Kuwait's Oil Minister, Shaykh Ali Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah. The grilling will require Shaykh Ali Al-Jarrah to go before parliament on June 25 to answer questions related to accusations of financial and administrative impr [...] |
2007-06-13 13:00:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM KISL KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |
| 07KUWAIT989 |
OIL MINISTER TORCHED IN GRILLING; FACES NO [...] (C) Summary and comment: On June 25, ten MPs submitted a no confidence motion on the Oil Minister following a nine-hour "grilling" by three opposition MPs on corruption-related charges. The motion was supported by MPs from all four parliamentary blocs, suggesting it will get the 25 votes nee [...] |
2007-06-26 13:30:00 | Embassy Kuwait | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EPET KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY |