Liberals to support PM as new grilling looms in kuwait

Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah got solid assurance yesterday that he will survive a crucial non-cooperation vote tomorrow after the two main liberal groups said they will not support the motion. In a joint statement, the Democratic Forum and the National Democratic Alliance said that last week's grilling of the prime minister over ties with Iran does not qualify for a vote of no-confidence. The two groups said that although the prime minister and his seven governments have failed to provide the proper environment to complete the building of the state, the grilling contains material detrimental to national unity and carries sectarian sentiment. The statement said that there has been a general retreat in most indicators like development and freedom besides widespread corruption and undermining of constitutional principles. The liberals have about six MPs in the National Assembly. One MP, Abdulrahman Al-Anjari, has already supported the non-cooperation motion, which means that the remaining five will not support the vote. The votes of the five MPs are very crucial to the survival of the prime minister because 18 MPs have almost confirmed they will vote against the prime minister and to pass, the motion requires 25 votes among the 49 elected MPs. Also, Shiite MP Hassan Jowhar said he will not support the motion, which almost e ffectively kills it. In the previous non-cooperation vote in January, five of the six liberal MPs and Jowhar voted in favour of the motion. The grilling of the prime minister focused on allegations that he boosted ties with Iran at the expense of Gulf Arab states, which raised reservations from the Kuwaiti Shiite minority. But Islamist MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei, one of the three MPs who grilled the prime minister, strongly criticized the position of the liberal MPs, charging that their position was taken purely for electoral purposes to win Shiite voters. He also challenged them to produce any evidence that the grilling is sectarian. Meanwhile, opposition MPs warned that if the non-cooperation motion will not pass, they will file a new grilling against the prime minister immediately after the vote. According to MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun, the new grilling will focus on allegations of corruption and squandering of public funds. Opposition MPs Khaled Al-Tahous, Musallam Al-Barrak and Faisal Al-Mislem will file the new grilling. Its debate is not yet certain as the Assembly plans to close the term on June 29. Yes, we have an agenda to rescue Kuwait from Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah who has destroyed the country," veteran opposition MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun told a gathering on Monday night. "We will not let go because this concerns (safeguarding) Kuwaiti interests ... If the no-confidence motion does not pass, we will submit a new quiz on Thursday," said Saadoun, a former three-time parliament speaker. "We will continue to grill the prime minister until this government falls," Saadoun told the gathering organis ed by the opposition to garner support for tomorrow's vote. Islamist MP Khaled Al-Sultan warned that the future of the state, bordered by regional powers Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia, was at stake because of policies adopted by the government. "If this government continues in power, Kuwait, its people and the regime will be wiped off the map," Sultan told the gathering. Sultan however said the opposition's dispute with the prime minister was not personal but because of his failure to lead the wealthy state. Between 2006 and 2011, Kuwait's budget increased from 10 billion dinars ($36 billion) to around 20 billion dinars ($72 billion) ... but no progress was achieved in development," Sultan said. He said the country's corruption indicators had increased under Sheikh Nasser to unprecedented levels and public freedom curtailed, while spending was increased "just to keep his post." Tabtabaei said Kuwait was in danger of "falling into the arms of Iran. The Assembly also approved the 2011/2012 budgets of Kuwait Airways, the Credit and Savings Bank, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and Public Institution for Social Security. The Assembly also debated the budgets of Central Bank of Kuwait, state news agency KUNA and others and is expected to vote on the budget today. In another development, the Assembly office issued an order banning Abbas Ghloum, known as Abbas Al-Shaabi, the secretary of MP Musallam Al-Barrak and a staunch supporter of the opposition Popular Action Bloc. Abbas was banned from entry into the Assembly for three months and was referred to investigation for allegedly making offensive remarks during the grilling session last week. The Popular Bloc has protested against the action and vowed it will file a lawsuit against the Assembly speaker.