Arab News, Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021 | Zul Qaadah 12, 1442
Row erupts in parliament as Kuwait approves budget
Kuwait: Kuwait’s parliament
approved the 2021-22 state budget in a tense session that managed to temporarily
break a deadlock with the government that has blocked reforms in the Gulf state.
But chaos broke out after the vote, supported by 32 out of 63 lawmakers in
attendance including 50 elected members and government ministers. Parliamentary
guards entered the hall to restore order as opposition and pro-government MPS
quarrelled.
The session had gone ahead despite opposition lawmakers once again occupying
seats reserved for ministers, a tactic they have used in recent weeks to try to
highlight their demand to question the prime minister.
Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim called for a special session to discuss the budget at
a time when the OPEC nation is trying boost state finances and support an
economy that shrank 9.9 percent in 2020 due to low oil prices and the
coronavirus pandemic.
The budget, proposed by the government in January, had projected 23.05 billion
dinars ($76.65 billion) in expenditure for the fiscal year that started on April
1, and a deficit of 12.1 billion dinars.
“We have the right to request a special session because all regular sessions
have been disrupted,” Ghanim said.
Ministers stood at an entrance to the hall after MPs took their seats and some
lawmakers had rapped on tables to try to disrupt the discussions.
Frequent rows between the government and assembly have over decades led to
successive cabinet reshuffles and dissolutions of parliament, hampering
investment and reform.
Lawmakers want to question Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah over
the constitutionality of a motion passed in March delaying any questioning of
the premier until the end of 2022 along with other issues such as corruption.
Although the emir has final say over state matters, Kuwait is the only Gulf
monarchy to give substantial powers to an elected parliament, which can block
laws and question ministers.