New beginning and development

New beginning and development

By B Izzak

KUWAIT: It was an inauguration like no other. HH the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah gave yet another historic address at the opening session of the National Assembly, as he passionately called for cooperation, end to disputes and development, to thunderous applause from the jam-packed chamber and gallery.

Later, HH Sheikh Mishal turned the official ceremony into an almost informal event as he shook hands with lawmakers, exchanged traditional greetings and chatted with all MPs, sometimes at length. He appeared very relaxed, perhaps reflecting an atmosphere of optimism that the election was smooth and the outcome was as expected.

But that followed a hard-hitting address by HH the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince, reading it on behalf of HH the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. “If the (Amiri) address on June 22 was the speech of the new era, today’s speech is the address for the covenant of the new era,” he said, in reference to Kuwait’s national covenant issued 60 years ago that put the country on the democratic path.

HH Sheikh Mishal described the day as a “remarkable and glorious day”, and called on both the government and MPs to cooperate and focus on