Kuwaiti parliament speaker upbeat regarding constitutional court verdict

Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanim on Monday expressed his belief the Constitutional Court verdict, concerning legal status of the 2013 Parliament, would substantially contribute to the "restoration of the required stability and realize aspired achievements. " Al-Ghanim, speaking at a news conference, called on the Kuwaiti people to cooperate closely and place citizen's interest atop all priorities.  "Today, we have folded a page after a period of instability due to anticipations regarding the Constitutional Court order which is the essence of truthfulness," the National Assembly Speaker sated, shortly after the tribunal issued a verdict, affirming legal status of the current Parliament.  Al-Ghanim congratulated members of the National Assembly and the Kuwaiti people on the historic resolution of the Constitutional Court, rejecting suits contesting legality of the 2013 parliamentary polls that resulted in election of the current National Assembly.  "We congratulate the people of Kuwait on this important and historic verdict, issued by the Constitutional Court," he said. "We have always declared respect for such verdicts, no matter what they may be," he elaborated.  He re-affirmed the MPs' respect for the judiciary rules, stating, "May Allah support us in shouldering this responsibility". He also congratulated Abdelhameed Dashti and Nabil Al-Fadhel for being reinstated as members of the Parliament. The Parliament Speaker addressed (dismissed) MPs Maassouma Al-Mubarak and Osama Al-Tahoos, saying they had fulfilled their duties during their parliamentary service.  The Speaker of the National Assembly made further comments on the Court ruling, saying it would nudge the legislators to work harder, noting that despite the ministers' resignation, the parliamentary committees would pursue the fulfilling tasks and file the reports and more parliamentary sessions would be held, "even if we have to hold them on daily basis, and that for endorsing reports and bills after the government formation".  Asked about his opining with respect of the large number of ministers' interpellations, he said, "Now we are opening a new page, and regardless of the constitutional tools used by the MPs, which are part of their constitutional rights, the Assembly will find a mechanism where the inquiries will not contradict with (proceedings of) the regular sessions".  "He who has actual will to work, nothing will hinder him, and this Assembly represents the free will of the Kuwaiti people; it wants to make achievements; those who love Kuwait should give a chance to this Assembly," he added.  In response to a question whether the Parliament will complete its four-year term, the Parliament Speaker expressed hope that it would accomplish this, noting that this matter "is in the hands of His Highness the Amir who solely enjoys the right to dissolve the Assembly" on bases of the Constitution.  He expressed good wishes to His Highness the Prime Minister in the task of reshuffling the Cabinet, "so he may have a ministerial team capable of meeting high aspirations of members of the Assembly. "This is what we aspire to, thus if the Prime Minister makes success in this respect, that will be in service of Kuwait and the Kuwaitis", he said.  As to the forecast duration for forming a new government, he said, "I hope that formation of a new government be made as soon as possible so that we may manage to accomplish tasks", meanwhile, parliamentary activities will proceed, he said, naming in particular the National Assembly's housing affairs committee "which has been working diligently while preparing for the housing conference", to which government authorities and NGOs will be invited.