Kuwait 101 for The Washington Post

Unlike many Western publications that presented the storming events of the parliament as just another Arab Spring uprising, WP had a more balanced take on the events saying the Amir should listen to the opposition and sack the country's corrupt Prime Minister, instead of choosing repression. Two days ago, liberal MP Saleh Al-Mulla made a statement that the recent events will be used by authorities to make Kuwait a police state, which sounds likely as reports suggest that over 60 people were summoned or arrested for storming the parliament. It is clear that Kuwait is heading to a dangerous phase with this head-wrestling between two stubborn sides.

The WP opinion was highly debated in Kuwait; the opposition supporters said it was all propaganda while the pro-regime and anti-opposition (and there's a difference between the two) found it  wise and supportive of their argument. It happens rarely that a foreign editorial piece gets so much attention; all thanks to social media and political tension. However, I think that the WP does not acknowledge many factors that are playing a role in Kuwait's political crisis. First, the insistence of opposition (that include Islamists and conservatives) to take over all Anti-PM demonstrations is very much hurting the public movement and the calls for the departure of the prime minister. 

Second, the side statements of opposition figures in support of Saudi Arabia or of those of Shiaphobic nature, frighten minorities in Kuwait and leave them with the option of sticking to what the government offers over whatever the opposition might come up with. A true opposition surely would not engage in defense of neighboring regimes especially the KSA which has always interfered in Kuwait's interior politics and fueled Islamists. Until we have a true public movement that clearly separates itself from the opposition, the general view will always think of this as another selfish clash between the two powers in the country; the parliament and the government (or in some cases, the ruling family). A very important reason behind this incapability of public movements to function away from MPs is due to the lack of civil establishments and the constitutional ban of political parties.

The opposition is very weak in principles; it takes sides with a foreign power, campaigns for another Al-Sabah member, deals selectively with the constitution, proposes no program/ agenda/ plan, shows no reforming intentions, accused of corruption and abuse of power, and it falls into many contradictions such as respecting the elections results and what the people chose yet refusing how those who were elected, get to knock them down with 2 or 3 votes to keep 'the cooperation' with the prime minister. The opposition is not campaigning for a change in the constitution and the system, yet it is not settling for the outcomes of the parliament. The opposition figures, in reaction, chooseto enforce themselves on the public movement and they protest as if they were not the people in charge but just powerless citizens!

Although it acknowledged how Kuwait is more liberal when compared with the region, the WP says that the powers given to the parliament are very limited. Another point forgotten here is that neither the parliament nor the public demonstrations have called on more powers; and by 'more powers' the reference here is to the right of having an elected prime minister, whether chosen by the parliament or the people. The liberals in Kuwait feel too insecure with the idea of having an elected prime minister and think it is not the best time to experiment, the leftists are of no effect to empower such a demand, and the rest are avoiding it or getting into this war on behalf of 'others' such as members of the ruling family who would like to take the PM's chair. 

Anyone politically involved in Kuwaiti politics understands that the ruling family clash between the cousins is playing a big role here. The fact that the crown prince is old has made them go into battles to increase their chances for this future post. Many think that historically speaking, Kuwait now has less qualified candidates considering factors of experience, age, and personalities. There's also a generations-dilemma and the sub families inside the ruling family are growing egos and feeling more independent as they function within the society. Making clear choices within the ruling family in regard to the future posts can help solve the current political crisis that fueled discriminatory hate and gave birth to a line of low-standardized main stream media. 

We need to understand that despite the fact that the parliament members were elected by the people, the people did not necessarily elect them for their stands between the government and the opposition. The low profiled 'social-services' parliament members are playing a big role in this clash and making the political operation easily accessible for the government to control. A clear law needs to be proposed and passed to eliminate the winning chances of those who come in to do 'business' on behalf of their voters and in exchange submit to the government. Unfortunately, no one is proposing this and it will be nearly impossible to get it passed by both powers.

Needless to say, WP using the examples of Morocco and Jordan as relevant models taking the right path, was absolutely ridiculous and suggests the publication's own propaganda or ignorance!

Yes, so, to sum up, there's no one-step to solve this political crisis but what is definite is that the prime minister surely needs to step down/ get sacked as there is no possible exit to this crisis without this first essential step. Also, politicians and movements need to work with a better plan that proposes a constitutional reform to protect the democratic operation from the government's abuses and grant transparency for the people to access the needed information about both the cabinet and parliament members.