Kuwait aims to bolster political cohesion with new amnesty for jailed critics

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KUWAIT, Jan 19 (Reuters) – Kuwait’s emir has pardoned dozens of jailed critics under a new amnesty as the Gulf state continues efforts to end domestic political wrangling that has stymied reforms taxes and that tensions are surfacing between the new government and parliament.

The amnesty decreed by the Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, published Wednesday in the Official Bulletin, pardoned 34 Kuwaitis, most of them convicted of having issued public criticism. It includes people imprisoned and some convicted in absentia.

While Kuwait has the liveliest parliament in the region and tolerates criticism to a degree rare among Gulf Arab states, the Emir has the final say in state affairs and criticizing him is a punishable offence. jail.

Before details of the amnesty are released, the cabinet expressed in a statement on Tuesday the hope that the latest amnesty, which followed the pardon of dozens of political dissidents in 2021 in a nod to demands from the opposition, “would create an atmosphere of fruitful cooperation”.

Sheikh Nawaf, who took power in 2020, handed over most of his functions at the end of 2021 to his crown prince, who last year replaced the country’s prime minister, dissolved parliament and called for snap legislative elections to defuse a prolonged standoff between the government and elected officials. Assembly.

Opposition members made big gains in the September election.

Kuwait bans political parties but has given its legislature more influence than similar bodies in other Gulf monarchies, and political stability in the US-ally country has traditionally relied on cooperation between the government and the parliament.

Tensions resurfaced recently when lawmakers lobbied the government for a debt relief bill under which the state would buy the personal loans of Kuwaiti citizens – a move that previous governments have taken but which comes as the oil producer seeks to push through tax reforms to bolster state finances.

Opposition MP Mubarak Al-Hajraf, who asked to question the finance minister, thanked the emir and the crown prince in a message on Twitter for the “generous amnesty”.

While Kuwait’s leaders have also responded to other opposition demands, such as cracking down on perceived corruption and restructuring some key institutions, key reform proposals such as a public debt law continue. to face a legislative impasse.

A Western diplomat said Kuwait is focused on building internal consensus to accelerate development at a time when it is already lagging behind its neighbors, who are stepping up efforts to attract foreign investment and diversify markets. savings for a post-oil era.

Reporting by Ahmed Hagagy Writing by Ghaida Ghantous Editing by Frances Kerry

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