Kuwait’s Political Power Play

Kuwait is again in the grip of political instability. Prime Minister Shaikh Naseer Mohammad Al Ahmad Al Sabah found himself in the eye of the storm as parliamentarians grilled him, in an unprecedented six-hour session in camera, on charges of corruption and irregularities.

Published: Thu 10 Dec 2009, 9:26 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 12:30 AM

Though the motion of non-cooperation, filed by several legislators, is yet to be passed, which can see the possible ouster of the premier, the move itself is a shot in the arm for Kuwaiti democracy. The commitment of the legislators and the prudence of the prime minister to submit himself to legislative scrutiny are welcome. Notwithstanding the crisis, which has been there since February 2006, the move is constructively inclusive and will go a long way in ensuring parliamentary supremacy in the oil-rich Gulf state.

The assertiveness of MPs is creating ripples in Kuwait. During the last three years, the parliament has been dissolved thrice and the prime minister forced to resign five times. The Amir, with whom absolute power rests, has however treaded a cautious path and ensured that democracy in its infancy, is not hurt. At the same time, the monarch has succeeded in rescuing his nephew, the prime minister, and several other ruling family members in the cabinet from possible embarrassment by bringing around rapprochement time and again. The infighting, however, cannot go on for long, and the system cannot continue to be bogged down. While difference of opinion is the beauty of democracy, the lawmakers and the ruling clique in the cabinet need to ensure that they do not end up undermining the representative system at work.

Kuwait faces innumerable challenges. Apart from the repercussions of the ongoing global financial crisis, Kuwait these days is in the spotlight of terror. The tiny sheikdom recently had a brush with Al Qaeda at one of its sensitive installations, and there are reports of militants infiltrating from Iraq and Yemen. The Gulf emirate, which hosts a United States military base, cannot withstand instability — at least on the political horizon. Kuwait not only needs peace and prosperity at home, but also a proactive strategy on the international front.

To begin with, the parliament and the ruling establishment need to synchronise their priorities, and see to it that political bickering does not lead to instability. Both need to work for stability and reforms. Any setback to an infant democracy will prove detrimental to regional peace and  progress as well.