LOC10:23
07:23 GMT
By Sarah Al-Mukhaizem
KUWAIT, Nov 11 (KUNA) -- The State of Kuwait marks on Tuesday the 63rd anniversary of its Constitution, which specifies the ruling system and organizes relations among legislative, executive and judicial authorities.
Kuwaiti people are proud of their Constitution, which has contributed to democracy in the Gulf nation, highlighted the civil rights of citizens and their freedom of speech, as well as guaranteed justice and equality.
Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the State of Kuwait's 11th Amir, ratified the Constitution on November 11, 1962, a defining moment in the political history of Kuwait.
The Kuwaiti people remember with pride the historic democratic stages that Kuwait has undergone, beginning with the constitutional document in 1938 until the birth of the Constitution in 1962, the "most important document" of Kuwait.
The late Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem expressed his desire to build a solid parliamentary system based on democratic principles and to witness the contributions of the public to the Constitution.
He signed a law on August 26, 1961, regarding the bylaw of the transitional period and the holding of elections for the Constituent Assembly with a mandate to draft the Constitution.
Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem inaugurated the Constituent Assembly in January 1962 and told the members that they had a daunting task of laying the foundations of the ruling system of the nation.
Members of the Assembly elected Abdullatif Mohammad Al-Ghanem as Speaker and Dr. Ahmad Al-Khateeb as Deputy Speaker.
The sixth session saw the election of the Constitution Committee, consisting of Speaker Al-Ghanem, the late Father Amir Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, who was Interior Minister and also served as committee chairman, MP Humoud Al-Zaid Al-Khaled, who was also Minister of Justice, Yaqoub Yusuf Al-Humaidhi and Saud Abdulaziz Al-Abdulrazzaq.
The committee tabled the final draft of the Constitution, which was unanimously approved on November 3, 1962.
The Assembly then referred the draft Constitution to Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem who ratified it on November 11, 1962.
The Constitution consists of 183 Articles divided into five Chapters: the first about the State and System of Government, the second about Fundamental Constituents of Kuwaiti Society, the third about Public Rights and Duties, the fourth about Authorities, and the fifth about General and Transitional Provisions.
The first parliamentary elections were held in January 1963, marking the beginning of real political practice under the Constitution.
The democratic march in Kuwait has witnessed some marred setbacks. The Parliament was suspended twice, in 1976 and 1986. However, the Constitution remained the shield against domestic and external challenges, foremost among them the Iraqi invasion and occupation in 1990-91.
During the seven-month Iraqi occupation, Kuwaitis were united behind their legitimate leadership.
In April 1991, the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah formed a new government with a mandate to oversee reconstruction, and in October 1992, parliamentary life resumed.
The leaders of the State of Kuwait have always reaffirmed respect for the Constitution.
The late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah consistently reaffirmed his commitment to the Constitution, saying at a parliamentary session on October 26, 2010 that the Constitution was the cornerstone of democracy.
The late Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah reiterated this pledge and said the Constitution protected the country from crises.
The late Amir, at a special parliamentary session to take the constitutional oath as head of state on September 30, 2020, said "We reaffirm our commitment with our democracy and proud that Kuwait is a state of law and institutions."
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah expressed his determination to preserve the Constitution from malpractices in a drive to safeguard democracy.
In his speech to a special parliamentary session on October 8, 2020, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal said that he would safeguard the people's participation in the democratic process, standing against plans of division and attempts against the Constitution and the supreme national interests. (end)
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