(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) KUWAIT, Oct 18 (KUNA) -- His Highness the Deputy Amir and crown prince sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, addressing the first session of the 17th legislative term of the National Assembly on Tuesday, said his speech today is covenant of a new era and constitutes guidelines for performing State tasks.
'His Highness the Amir's speech on 6/22/2022 was the new era speech and today's address is the new era covenant; it sets the guidelines from the Political leadership to the nationals regarding the fashion of work in the coming stage,' said His Highness the Deputy Amir and the Crown Prince in his address at the seaside Abdullah Al-Salem Hall in Kuwait City center.
His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah affirmed that all citizens are partners in shouldering the responsibilities and moving forward the process of construction and reforms.
He expressed gratitude for the efforts that had been exerted to hold the recent parliamentary elections without any flaws, lauding the citizens for 'their sound choosing of their representatives in the National Assembly.' However, His Highness the Deputy Amir and the Crown Prince cautioned that following the elections, there must be follow-up and accountability, urging citizens to judge the MPs 'in case they would deviate in words and action from the sound democratic path.' He also praised efforts of the civil, military personnel and volunteers who cooperated for ensuring success of the parliamentary elections.
Touching on the recent parliament polls, His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince stated, 'We had cleansed the electoral process, before it was held, of flaws, offenses, deviations, votes' transfers .. thus it was concluded with a new manifestation.
'In follow-up to the pledge we have made, the Government will play the unprecedented historic role in your respectable Assembly during selection of the Speaker, members of the various committees, where the Government will not side with one's interest at the expense of another and the Assembly will be the master of its decisions.' Voicing satisfaction with results of the parliamentary polling, His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince said members of the legislative authority should perform their national duties, honor their pledges they had made as nominees for the sake of the homeland and the citizens during their electoral campaigns.
'And we hope .. that members of the legislative authority be aloft in the democracy practices, abstain from wasting the Assembly sessions with bickering and quarrels, lifting the sessions ahead of schedules, raising their voices in breach of norms of dialogue, refrain from intentional absence from meetings of the various committees' sessions.
'Such actions foil efforts to attain the aspired objectives, thus we hope that the members of the legislative authority focus instead on bolstering the supervisory role of the Assembly, activating its legislative role by issuing the laws that depict the national unity and attain the citizens' aspirations.' His Highness the Deputy Amir and the Crown Prince earnestly urged the MPs to refrain from non-constructive rhetoric toward the laws that concern interests of the homeland, citizens and the country's security, warning that such bids to serve personal interests will undermine the parliament aspired role.
Moreover, he urged the legislators to set their priorities for the near future, where 'files of the offenders and law breakers must not be on top of your priorities at the expense of the State full-scale development plans.' He further cautioned against dedicating attention to issues that serve tribal and factional interests 'rather than the citizens' aspirations.'
'We hope that the (MPs') democracy practice will be white (flawless) and free of any blemish so that they will not risk losing confidence of the people and ours.' As to the ministers, His Highness urged the members of the executive authority to sense citizens' needs and seek to attain their demand by serious action. He urged the new government to work out a strategy to reach 'rational governing,' warning that the cabinet and the ministers would be queried for any irregular acts and complacency. 'I will personally follow up on the government performance and bring it into account with respect of execution of its manifesto,' he warned.
In his robust-language address, His Highness Sheikh Mishaal indicated at the desire to oversee public personnel work and how they deal with citizens. 'And we stress on the necessity of applying the law decisively against the offenders and persons who have proven slack in performing the national duties.
His Highness hoped that 'the time of tension and rifts in the relations among you will be over, so that the Constitution may be respected with no infringement of any authority in the jurisdictions of another.' He further hoped that harmony, good intentions and devotion to the higher interests might prevail, regretting that much time and money had been wasted.
He urged both the MPs and the ministers to stimulate the youth so that they may partake in building Kuwait.
His Highness Sheikh Mishal urged the State media to hold seminars to inform the public about execution of the projects, called on the people of Kuwait namely the decision makers to ignore bids intended to sow seeds of sedition.
He emphasized the necessity to respect His Highness the Amir's jurisdictions, abstain from objections or suspicion because they constitute core of the sovereign acts.
The parliament session kicked off early today. An Amiri decree was published on October 9 calling on the parliament to convene in the wake of the September 29 legislative elections.
Article 104 of the Constitution states that the Amir shall open the annual session of the parliament and he shall deliver an Amiri speech reviewing the situation of the nation and the important public matters, which happened during the preceding year, and outlining the projects and reforms the government plans to undertake during the coming year.
The Amir, according to the article, could deputize the Prime Minister to open the assembly or deliver the Amiri speech.
Article 83 of the Constitution states that the term of the National Assembly shall be four calendar years commencing with the day of its first sitting. (end) jy.ns.bs.rk