ShareKUWAIT: The Kuwait Cabinet on Monday held the first session after swearing in before the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at Seif Palace. The meeting was led by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad al-Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Barrak Al-Sheetan said.
At the onset of the meeting, the Cabinet reviewed Sheikh Mishal's speech on the occasion of the Government's constitutional oath that included some directives. His Highness the Deputy Amir said in his speech that taking over a ministerial post is an honesty before Allah and people, urging the ministers to show allegiance to the homeland and His Highness the Amir, and respect the law and constitution.
Sheikh Mishal also appealed to the ministers to pay attention to the fundamental issues and implement law on all people as well as consolidate transparency. The Deputy Amir further called on the government members to preserve the country and citizens' security, and carry out the development projects and provide housing welfare as well as upgrade health system.
In addition, the Deputy Amir asked the ministers to address the economic and investment situations, combat corruption and hold corrupters accountable, calling for cooperation of all people to serve the beloved Kuwait and raise its status. The Cabinet stressed its full commitment to the Deputy Amir's directives and vowed to take all steps to implement them and serve the country and citizens.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet listened to His Highness the Prime Minister's speech during which he welcomed the ministers, thanking them for accepting responsibility in this period. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf wished the ministers every success in making all possible efforts to set and carry out a comprehensive reform program in all aspects to meet aspirations, give importance to priorities, upgrade public services, implement law, combat corruption and achieve sustainable development.
Responding to the Prime Minister's speech, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Talal Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah expressed, on behalf of his fellow ministers, appreciation for the precious trust of His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Prime Minister. Sheikh Talal Khaled pledged to work as a team to harness all energies to address challenges of this stage, and to make every effort to meet hopes and aspirations, advance development, improve services provided to citizens, and continue efforts to eliminate corruption in all its forms and everything that would achieve the advancement of the dear homeland.
The Cabinet approved the coordination committee formation between the government and the National Assembly headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs. It also included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil, Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development. The Cabinet finally discussed the National Assembly affairs and the latest political happenings on international and Arab arenas.
The first session
Amid directives to the legislative and executive authorities to assume national responsibility in a new stage of cooperation between them in an atmosphere of consensus, understanding, work and commitment, the National Assembly will start on Tuesday, the first session of 17th legislative term.
The first session of the new legislative term begins according to the agenda with the opening ceremony, where His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah will inaugurate the session. After that, the session will be adjourned for a period during which the committee will bid farewell to His Highness the Crown Prince, then the session will resume with items on the agenda. The National Assembly then moves in its session to elect the speaker and vice president of the Council for the 17th legislative term, in addition to electing the secretary.
The Council is scheduled to elect members of the committee - preparing the draft answer to the parliamentary Amiri speech and members of the permanent parliamentary committees, which are the committees for petitions, complaints, defense, economic affairs, legal affairs, education, culture, health, social affairs, labor, foreign affairs, budgets and protection of public funds. The Council is expected to elect members of the temporary parliamentary committees, if any.
In this regard, Article 85 of the Constitution stipulates that "the National Assembly's annual session shall be of not less than eight months duration and the session shall not be finally adjourned before the passing of the budget." Also, Article 91 said that a member of the National Assembly shall take an oath before the Assembly in a public meeting before taking up his functions at the Assembly or its committees. Accordingly, Article 93 mentioned that "in the course of the first week of its annual session, the Assembly shall form committees necessary to carry on its work."
On October second, a decree was issued calling for the National Assembly to convene the first session of the 17th legislative term on the morning of October 11, followed by a decree issued on October ninth to postpone the session until the morning of October 18, tomorrow, Tuesday. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, in a speech delivered by His Highness the Crown Prince, on June 22, sent a message to each of the legislative and executive authorities, urging for cooperation between them in an atmosphere of consensus and understanding. - KUNA
