May 16, 2011
Kuwait lawmakers ask to question deputy PM
Two Kuwaiti lawmakers asked on Sunday to question a deputy prime minister in the week-old government over what they described as misuse of public funds, a sign of opposition rare in the Gulf Arab region.
Sunday’s request by two lawmakers from the liberal National Action Bloc to question Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, deputy prime minister for economic affairs, was the second such request since the new cabinet was formed last week.
Two other lawmakers submitted a request on Tuesday, the first day of parliament under the new cabinet, to question Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah.
Both ministers are members of the ruling al-Sabah family. Sheikh Nasser is a nephew of the ruler, Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.
The previous cabinet quit in March rather than allow lawmakers to question three ministers from the ruling family, including Sheikh Ahmad.
Kuwait’s parliament has limited powers but is still the most outspoken in a region dominated by autocratic rulers. It has triggered numerous cabinet resignations or reshuffles through its power of requiring ministers to appear for questioning.
In Sunday’s request, lawmakers Adel al-Saraawi and Marzouq al-Ghanim asked to question Sheikh Ahmad about allegations of squandering public funds and violating laws related to the government’s four-year development plan, according to a copy obtained by Reuters.
They had made a similar request before the cabinet resigned in March.
Khaleej Times -
http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFLDE74E04Z20110515
