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Parl't Speaker reiterates commitment to constitution

National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim
National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim
KUWAIT, May 19 (KUNA) -- National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim on Tuesday underscored the legislature's commitment to constitution "in text and spirit." The National Assembly stops "any unsound practices," Al-Ghanim stressed in a press statement after today's regular session that saw a grilling by MP Abdulhamid Dashti against First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
Since the start of the current legislative term, the parliament has only been discussing motions deemed "constitutional", he said.
An MP is the one who decides it, through advice from constitutional experts, or personal exertion, he said. According to the constitution, an MP is responsible for his decision and stance inside the parliament.
According to rules, the minister has 14 days to reply once the interpellation is submitted.
Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said he was ready for the discussions though the motion was submitted on 11 May.
Al-Ghanim noted that the First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister demanded to scratch off the first axis of the interpellation -- undermining the State image and potentials and the request was approved by 45 MPs and objected by nine. Two MPs of the present 56 legislators abstained.
Then, 12 MPs demanded the grilling session to be secret in line with article 94 of the National Constitution and provision 69 of the parliament's by-law. But just as measures for the in-camera debate would start, the interpellator, MP Dashti told the Speaker that he was withdrawing from the session.
Al-Ghanim noted that he called all MPs asking if any would adopt the motion, but none did. Thus, the interpellation was dropped, in line with Article 141 of the by-law.
Some National Assembly's constitutional experts had termed the first axis of the interpellation as "unconstitutional" while others said the same applied to all axes, Al-Ghanim revealed.
The parliament has the power to scratch off any unconstitutional axis, he said.
Meanwhile, the parliament today voted on five reports by the Budget and Final Accounts Committee, Al-Ghanim said, lauding persistent efforts by MPs and staff. (Pick up previous) hrz.ssk.msa