Kuwait’s Emir suspends the country’s parliament amid major political unrest – Firstpost

Another Middle Eastern country was plunged into political unrest after the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmed Al Sabah, announced he would suspend the country’s elected parliament for up to four years.

“I will not allow democracy to be abused to destroy the state,” the emir said in the televised address. The announcement stoked fears that the move could destroy one of the last semi-democratic political systems in the Middle East.

“The unhealthy atmosphere that Kuwait has experienced in recent years has encouraged the spread of corruption to most state institutions, and unfortunately it has also reached the security and economic institutions,” the 83-year-old said in his speech. “It even impacts the justice system, which is the safeguard of people’s rights and freedoms,” he added.

What is happening in Kuwait?

The emir not only dismissed the country’s parliament, but also suspended several articles of the Kuwaiti constitution. He called it a “transitional period” and explained that this time would be used to review “all aspects of the democratic process” in Kuwait.

During the suspension of Parliament, the Emir and the Cabinet will assume the legislative powers of the 50-member Parliament.

The decision came just a month after the oil-rich country held national elections for the fourth time in as many years. While Kuwait was electing a new parliament, its member had not yet started the new session after being elected.

It is important to note that the Kuwaiti parliament has often been dissolved in favor of new elections; the most recent suspension occurred in February of this year. However, parliamentary suspension has only occurred twice in the country’s history, in 1976 and 1986.

There have been frequent standoffs between parliament and the executive in the country, which have worsened over the last five years.

The Middle Eastern country has been a loyal U.S. ally since the ousting of Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi occupation forces in the 1991 Gulf War. Kuwait is also home to approximately 13,500 American military personnel as well as the U.S. Army’s Middle East headquarters.

With input from the agencies.

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