‘Kuwait court declares polls illegal’

“The court declared that the Emir decree that called for the 2012 election was unconstitutional and ordered reinstating the previous assembly,” AFP quoted Kuwait’s state-run news agency, KUNA, as reporting.

Kuwaiti Emir issued a decree last December to dissolve the parliament amid rising allegations of corruption in the government, and following nationwide youth protests calling for reforms and resignation of former prime minister Sheikh Nasser who was accused of mismanagement and bribing pro-government lawmakers.

Parliamentary elections were subsequently held in February, with Kuwaiti opposition groups winning almost two thirds of seats.

The country’s highest court on Wednesday ruled that the move to dissolve the former government was illegal. Following the ruling, the 2009-2011 parliament will convene and submit a request to the Emir to dissolve the newly elected parliament.

According to the Kuwaiti constitution, fresh general elections must be held within two months of the dissolution.

The constitutional court’s rulings are final and cannot be challenged.

The Persian Gulf state’s leading opposition MP Mussallam al-Barrak considered the ruling as “a coup against the constitution” and urged the opposition groups to take a united stand.

SAB/JR

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