VZCZCXRO6832
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKU #2821/01 1931539
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 121539Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5751
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 002821 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NSC FOR RAMCHAND, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS 
FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2016 
TAGS: PGOV KU FREEDOM AGENDA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
SUBJECT: FREEDOM AGENDA: CABINET APPROVES FIVE CONSTITUENCY 
PROPOSAL; AL-KHORAFI RE-ELECTED AS SPEAKER 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 2775 
     ¶B. KUWAIT 2602 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Matthew Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) an 
d (d) 
 
¶1.  (C/NF) Summary and comment: The new Cabinet approved July 
11 a draft electoral reform bill and a draft bill to write 
off the interest on retirees' loans.  Many saw the measures 
as a conciliatory move by the Government to repair relations 
with Parliament.  Jassem Al-Khorafi was re-elected as Speaker 
of Parliament during the new assembly's first session on July 
¶12.  Some pro-reform activists viewed his victory over the 
opposition candidate, Ahmed Al-Saadoun, as a setback for the 
pro-reform movement and accused Islamist MPs of making an 
under-the-table deal with the Government.  Others were more 
pragmatic, noting that the pro-reform alliance "was always 
fragile" and was ultimately only based on common support for 
political reforms.  Beyond that, each group is still trying 
to protect its own political interests.  As one observer 
commented, "That's politics."  While largely a formality due 
to the proximity of the summer recess, elections for 
parliamentary committees were swept by pro-reform MPs, 
demonstrating their political power when they cooperate. 
 
¶2.  (C/NF) Comment: As many suggested, Al-Khorafi's 
re-election was likely the result of a deal made between the 
Government, who wanted a sympathetic Speaker, and some 
pro-reform MPs, who wanted to obtain more benefits for their 
constituents.  It also highlights the divisions within the 
pro-reform majority in Parliament.  Nonetheless, the 
Government has made significant concessions to the pro-reform 
bloc.  The Cabinet's approval of a five constituency proposal 
almost guarantees eventual passage of an electoral reform 
bill in the near future, which is what pro-reform MPs had 
demanded.  It also suggests the Government may be more 
willing to cooperate with Parliament on passing other 
important legislation.  End summary and comment. 
 
New Cabinet Tackles Old Issues 
------------------------------ 
 
¶3.  (C/NF) In its first meeting on July 11, the new Cabinet 
approved a draft bill to reduce the number of electoral 
constituencies from 25 to five (see para 9) as had been 
demanded by pro-reform members of Parliament (MPs).  It also 
approved a bill to write off the interest on loans taken out 
by retired Kuwaitis against their pensions.  The move was 
seen by many as a goodwill gesture to pro-reform MPs who made 
significant gains in the recent parliamentary elections (ref 
B).  The Cabinet also approved decrees nominating former 
Minister of Energy Shaykh Ahmed Al-Fahd Al-Sabah as the 
President of the National Security Bureau, and former 
Minister of Cabinet/National Assembly Affairs Mohammed Sharar 
as an Advisor to the Amiri Diwan.  Both Ministers were 
sharply criticized for corruption during the recent elections 
and were excluded from the current Cabinet (ref A); their new 
positions are of a ministerial rank in terms of protocol. 
 
Al-Khorafi Returns to the Speaker's Seat 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C/NF) Parliament held its first session on July 12. 
Jassem Al-Khorafi, a government-leaning, independent MP with 
close ties to Amir Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed, was re-elected as 
Speaker, beating out Ahmed Al-Saadoun, an outspoken, veteran 
opposition MP, 36 to 28; one ballot was left blank.  (Note: 
Voting was conducted by secret ballot.  End note.)  During 
the recent elections, Al-Khorafi was sharply criticized for 
corruption and for supporting the Government.  His 
re-election drew cries of protest from pro-reform activists 
observing the session, but after several minutes of 
disruption the session continued smoothly with Al-Khorafi 
assuming the Speaker's chair.  Dr. Mohammed Al-Bousairi, one 
of six members of the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM), 
the political arm of the Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood, was 
elected as Deputy Speaker.  Both positions are elected for 
the duration of the 4-year parliamentary term, whereas other 
offices and committees in Parliament are elected on an annual 
basis. 
 
A Full Agenda before the Summer Recess 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C/NF) Al-Khorafi referred the five constituency and the 
pensioners' interest bills passed by the Cabinet to the 
appropriate committees, and asked them to draft their reports 
"as soon as possible" so Parliament could debate and vote on 
 
KUWAIT 00002821  002 OF 003 
 
 
the legislation, possibly in a special session before 
recessing for the summer.  MP Ali Al-Rashid, who was elected 
to the Interior and Defense Affairs Committee, which is 
responsible for reviewing the Government's five constituency 
proposal, responded that his committee's report would be 
ready by July 17.  Parliament must also approve the 15 Amiri 
decrees issued since the May 21 dissolution.  Parliament is 
only expected to meet once or twice more before adjourning 
for summer recess until October. 
 
Trading Allegations Already? 
---------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C/NF) The reactions of pro-reform activists to 
Al-Khorafi's re-election were mixed.  Most accused the ICM of 
making a deal with the Government in return for supporting 
Al-Khorafi as Speaker, noting that the six-vote difference 
between Al-Khorafi and Al-Saadoun was equal to the number of 
ICM MPs in Parliament and that an ICM MP was elected as 
Deputy Speaker.  Dana Al-Salem, one of the leaders of the 
"orange movement," told Poloff that in some ways she was 
happy with the vote because "at least it shows clearly that 
they (the ICM) are willing to say one thing (in public) and 
then stab us in the back."  Another youth activist, Mohammed 
Al-Sherki, told Poloff he was "not surprised" by the result 
and did not/not view Al-Khorafi's re-election as a major 
setback to the reform movement.  He said he originally 
thought the ICM had supported Al-Khorafi, but that "their 
people" told him "they did not do it." 
 
¶7.  (C/NF) Saad Al-Enezi, a Kuwaiti reporter for Al-Jazeera 
television, claimed Islamist MPs had been split on the 
speakership vote, and some, including several ICM MPs, had 
voted for Al-Khorafi.  He told Poloff he received an SMS the 
night before giving the exact number of votes Al-Khorafi 
would receive and it had been "100% correct," giving credence 
to his argument that some sort of deal was struck.  Asked if 
this indicated the liberal-Islamist, pro-reform alliance was 
fraying, he responded, "It was always a fragile alliance. 
There are many different groups under the pro-reform umbrella 
each with their own interests be they familial, tribal, 
ideological, or business."  Although he predicted these 
splits would become openly apparent before long, he was 
optimistic that the Parliament would still pass the 
Government's electoral reform proposal.  "It is only a matter 
of time now," he concluded.  Commenting on some Islamists' 
rumored support for Al-Khorafi, the Head of Parliament's 
Registry Department, said succinctly, "That's politics."  His 
comment perhaps best captures the fact that the pro-reform 
alliance is at the end of the day composed of different 
groups each looking to further their specific political 
interests. 
 
Pro-Reform MPs Sweep Committees 
------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (C/NF) Pro-reform MPs swept the elections for the ten 
permanent and thirteen ad hoc committees in Parliament. 
Though largely a formality since committee members will be 
elected again after the summer recess, the committee 
elections demonstrate the weight of the pro-reform majority 
in Parliament.  For example, the Defense and Interior Affairs 
Committee, which has historically been dominated by 
pro-Government MPs, was swept by pro-reform MPs.  Mohammed 
Jassem Al-Sager was re-elected to the Foreign Affairs 
Committee.  Committees choose a Chairman and Rapporteur 
during their first meeting, however, most are unlikely to 
even meet before summer recess.  Parliament also unanimously 
approved a proposal to establish a new Bidoon Affairs 
Committee (septel). 
 
The Government's Five Constituency Proposal 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (C/NF) According to press reports, the electoral reform 
proposal approved by the Cabinet on July 11 is for five 
constituencies with ten MPs elected from each constituency. 
Under this system, each voter would be able to cast four 
votes.  The number of voters per constituency is as follows: 
(1) 62,108 voters, (2) 38,753 voters, (3) 54,197 voters, (4) 
88,454 voters, and (5) 90,231 voters.  Despite the objection 
of some MPs (primarily pro-Government "service deputies") 
that the geographic and demographic distribution of this 
proposal is "unfair," it is still likely to be approved by 
the majority of MPs.  Some suggest Parliament could vote on 
the proposal as early as next week. 
 
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KUWAIT 00002821  003 OF 003 
 
 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
********************************************* * 
TUELLER