by GIORGIO CAFIERO
The emir’s decision to suspend parliament reflects a state of political deadlock
After the recent suspension of Kuwait’s National Assembly and several articles of the constitution, it is practically impossible to forecast the future of the country’s internal affairs with any degree of confidence.
Some prominent Kuwaiti figures, including former members of parliament, have hailed Emir Mishal al-Ahmed Al Sabah’s move, while others are worried about this “illiberal moment”, amid fears of democratic backsliding and a crackdown on dissent.
Unlike two previous suspensions of the Kuwaiti parliament in 1976 and 1986, the latest move was a result of domestic, rather than regional, factors.
The emir and government have been in conflict with the National Assembly for years, amid back-and-forth accusations of incompetence, abuses of power and corruption. Facing political deadlock, the emir determined that a bold move was necessary to “save” Kuwait and “not allow democracy to be exploited to destroy the country”.
Gordon Gray, a professor with expertise in Kuwaiti politics at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, told Middle East Eye: “The emir’s background is in intelligence and national security, so he is unlikely to be comfortable with the give-and-take of parliamentary politics or the National Assembly’s strong interest in having a say in the naming of the new crown prince.”
Many experts doubt, however, that Emir Mishal al-Ahmed’s extraconstitutional move will impact Kuwait’s approach to regional and global affairs.
“This move is not likely a shift in foreign policy. Instead, it most likely reflects the emir’s focus on internal matters,” Dania Thafer, executive director of the Gulf International Forum, told MEE. “Attempting to radically change foreign policy and simultaneously overhaul the economy through domestic reforms would be a precarious endeavour during this delicate period.”
Relations with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi
Gray also said that domestic matters, not foreign policy issues, were at the heart of recent disagreements and divisions among Kuwaitis.
“The conduct of foreign policy is not controversial within Kuwait; for example, unlike Bahrain or the UAE, the government has not normalised relations with Israel or even hinted it is moving in that direction,” he said.
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