For the first time in Kuwaiti history, the government permitted one of its ministers, who is a member of the ruling family, to be subject to an impeachment vote in parliament.
Ten opposition lawmakers requested the vote last month, which took place Monday. Thirty deputies voted in favor of Shiekh Jaber Khaled al-Sabah, while sixteen deputies voted against him and two abstained. The motion required 25 votes to pass in the 50-member house, which would have automatically dismissed the minister from his post.
Al-Sabah was accused of financial irregularities at his ministry, violations during the previous elections and ordering the installations of a camera in the parliament to allow him to spy on lawmakers.
The Kuwaiti parliament has voted on only fifteen no-confidence measures since its establishment in 1963. It has experienced a series of political crises in the past three years forcing five governments to resign and three parliaments to resolved.
© 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
