Several thousand people, 5,000 according to the organizers, demonstrated in the evening of Wednesday, November 6 in front of the Kuwaiti Parliament, to protest against corruption in the institutions of the country.
The first Gulf monarchy to have a parliament elected in 1962, Kuwait, which enjoys a unique democratic tradition in the Gulf, is the scene of recurring political crises, with changes of government and dissolution of Parliament repeat.
Political haggling and corruption (Kuwait is the 78th - out of 180 - the most corrupt in the world, according to Transparency International) are considered the main reasons for the modernization of the economy of this rich emirate Al-Sabah dynasty since the mid-eighteenth century and yet enjoying huge oil revenues.
Former MP Saleh al-Moulla, who launched the call to protest via social networks, gave an interview to France 24, to explain the reasons that led him to call his compatriots to demonstrate.
What was the meaning of the event you helped organize on Thursday ?
Saleh al-Moulla : I made a spontaneous call to protest on social networks because of my personal exasperation as a citizen, but also because of the general discontent that is perceptible in the country, towards the government and Parliament and corruption cases. This resentment is not new, since 2009 there has been a showdown with the successive governments, but today the situation has reached an unbearable level, people can not get enough of it. corruption, that's why my call was heard and nearly 5,000 people took to the streets. Because not only does the government do nothing to fight this scourge, but in addition, some parties present in it participate.
What solution do you propose to overcome corruption in the country ?
The problem can not be solved by changing the individuals who are at the controls, many people have succeeded in different governments and in Parliament, without any results, because it is the system that is involved. Since 2009, I personally call for a change in the system and to carry out several reforms, in particular the electoral law of the legislative ones, as well as the mode of appointment of the ministers. Since the entry into force of the Constitution in 1962, the selection of ministers is not based on competences, but on a certain conservatism which is problematic and at the root of certain dysfunctions.
In Lebanon and Iraq, protesters have also been mobilizing for several weeks against the corruption of their political elites. Are these situations comparable to Kuwait's?
With all due respect for the popular demands of Iraqis and Lebanese, which are legitimate and just, the situation in Kuwait has its own characteristics. It is different in the sense that we do not have a problem with the nature of the political system in place. Our concern is with the institutions of this country, namely the government and Parliament. Solutions to our problems are simpler, but they require decision making. The event that took place on Wednesday was aimed at sending a message that a decision must be taken to stabilize the situation in the country. Kuwait is a prosperous country, but suffers from fiscal impotence, investments are insufficient. We have been talking for 50 years about projects to diversify government revenues, but our wealth comes only from oil revenues, which is unacceptable.