- The National political reform program launched by Opposition Coalition of Kuwait, consisting of allNational political reform program and nationalists as well as trade and student unions, youth activists and civil society groups, called for broad democratic reforms to limit the powers of the emirate’s ruling Al-Sabah family, which has been in power for more than 250 years.
- All governments since 1962, when Kuwait’s constitution was issued, have been led by a senior figure from the Al-Sabah family, whose members have also always occupied the key ministries of interior, defence and foreign affairs.
- It calls for fundamental political, constitutional and legislative reforms, and amendment of 36 provisions of the 183-article constitution to curtail the powers of the emir, bring in a multi-party system, and put an end to confusion between the presidential and parliamentary systems.
- The program requires the emir to invite the winning party leader of an election to form the cabinet, limiting his prerogatives under the current system and rationalising his right to dissolve parliament. It also calls for the legalisation of political parties and for massive reforms by introducing 20 key laws focused on corruption, accountability and public freedoms.
- Read at:http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/kuwait-opposition-calls-for-reforms/article5906733.ece
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