Manama: Five Kuwaiti ministers, including the prime minister, could face grilling in the parliament in the next few days, a local paper has said.
Apart from the Prime Minister Shaikh Nasser Al Mohammad, Defence Minister Jaber Al Mubarak, Finance Minister Mustafa Al Shamali, Interior Minister Jaber Al Khalid, and Works Minister Fadhel Safar are expected to come under fire, says local daily Al Seyassah.
The government would either submit its resignation or stand up to the criticism. A third option would be a cabinet reshuffle that would defeat the lawmakers' plans, the paper speculates.
The possible grilling of the ministers was announced barely a week after the Amir, Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, urged constructive co-operation between the government and MPs by focusing on development and addressing differences in an atmosphere of collaboration and not confrontation for the sake of the nation.
On Monday, interior minister Shaikh Jaber Al Khalid denied claims that he had resigned ahead of the parliament's quizzing.
"The allegations are malicious rumours that do not serve Kuwait's interests and security. My friends the MPs will be the first people to know in case I hand in my resignation," the minister said. "The people who are disseminating such malicious claims have sick minds and think only about their interests. There is no reason for me to resign," he said.
Kuwaiti media on Sunday said that the minister would step down before November 17 ahead of a crucial parliamentary session as a measure to help decrease the mounting tension between lawmakers and the government.
One newspaper reported that 22 MPs said that they planned to have a no-confidence motion against the minister, a move that could make him decide to resign.
Prime Minister Shaikh Nasser Al Mohammad told editors in chief on Sunday evening that Al Jaber had not resigned.
