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Kuwait Democracy on the Line, Oppn Warns

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Kuwait Democracy on the Line, Oppn Warns SUBSCRIPTION SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 2013 SHAABAN 7, 1434 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Kuwaiti jihadist Protesters 25 die as Brazil defeats Al-Bathali defiant; Erdogan militants Japan in killed in delivers storm Pakistan opener Syria 3 ultimatum8 hospital13 20 Kuwait democracy on Max 44º Min 32º the line, oppn warns High Tide 05:12 & 16:10 Court ruling could determine future of Kuwait Low Tide 10:48 & 23:03 40 PAGES NO: 15841 150 FILS By B Izzak Rohani wins Iran presidential vote KUWAIT: The Constitutional Court is scheduled today to issue its long-awaited verdict on the controversy over Amir powers under article 71 of the constitution to Reformist-backed cleric trounces conservative rivals issue “emergency” legislation in the absence of the National Assembly in a ruling described as “historical” DUBAI: Moderate cleric Hassan Rohani won Iran’s and could determine the future course of democracy in presidential election yesterday, the interior ministry Kuwait. said, scoring a surprising landslide victory over con- The controversy began last October when His servative hardliners without the need for a second Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah round run-off. The outcome will not soon transform issued a decree to amend the electoral constituency law Iran’s long tense relations with the West, resolve an of 2006 under which the number of candidates a voter international crisis over its pursuit of nuclear power or can pick up was reduced from a maximum of four to lessen its support of Syria’s president in the civil war just one. The opposition said the amendment was ille- there - matters of national security that remain the gal and breached the constitution because there was domain of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. no urgency in the matter and the government could But the president runs the economy and wields have waited until elections were held and then asked important influence in decision-making. Rohani’s the new Assembly to change the law. resounding election mandate could provide latitude The opposition also said the amendment allows the for a diplomatic thaw with the West and more social government to control the outcome of the election and freedoms at home after eight years of belligerence thus has the ability to elect an Assembly of loyalists and repression under President Mahmoud because it changed the sensitive electoral system. The Ahmadinejad, who was legally barred from seeking a government meanwhile insisted that the Amir has the third consecutive term. Celebratory crowds assem- right to issue legislation under article 71 of the constitu- bled near Rohani’s headquarters in downtown Tehran tion in the absence of the National Assembly. The con- a few hours before his victory was confirmed. troversy has been raging over the legal interpretation of “Long live reform, long live Rohani,” chanted the the article and accordingly the powers of the Amir as throngs, according to witnesses at the scene. “Ahmadi, per Article 71. bye bye,” they added in reference to Ahmadinejad, TEHRAN: Iranians celebrate the victory of moderate presidential candidate Hassan Rohani (portrait) in the Article 71 of the constitution states the following: another witness there said. Islamic Republics presidential elections in downtown Tehran yesterday. Iranian Interior Minister “Should necessity arise for urgent measures to be taken while the National Assembly is not in Continued on Page 15 Mohammad Mostafa Najjar said Rohani won outright with 18.6 million votes, or 50.68 percent. — AFP Continued on Page 15 SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 2013 LOCAL 1,700 drivers face probe over forged licenses: Ali Documents fabricated to obtain licenses KUWAIT: The authorities have planned to sum- Major General Abdulfattah Al-Ali told Al-Rai holders have changed - for instance, if a stu- mon more than 1,700 drivers for questioning in recently. dent has found a job after obtaining the the near future, after traffic department investi- Foreigners living in Kuwait need to meet license. Maj Gen Al-Ali warned that the individ- gations revealed that the drivers had obtained certain requirements in order to apply for a dri- uals summoned could face charges of “forgery their driving licenses through forgery, a local ver’s license, including having a valid work visa, of official documents.” “Coordination with uni- daily reported yesterday, quoting a senior a university degree and a minimum salary of versities, the Immigration General Department Ministry of Interior official. KD400 a month. An exception is made for stu- and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor has “Investigations over the past two months dents of public and private universities, as well enabled the General Traffic Department to uncovered that such applicants obtained as stay-at-home mothers, under certain condi- identify the forgers,” he said in statements pub- licenses after forging documents, in which they tions, such as when the husband is works in lished yesterday. He added that traffic police KUWAIT: Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Sheikh claimed to be Kuwait University students or remote locations. However, Maj Gen Al-Ali had plan to pursue “drivers hired by families to work Salman Al-Humoud yesterday received two youth delegations representing the workers, so as to qualify to apply for a license,” recently announced that such licenses will now without having a driver’s license,” as part of the Assistant Undersecretary for Traffic Affairs be cancelled if the life circumstances of their ongoing traffic campaigns. ‘Together’ and ‘We’re With You’ projects. During the meeting, Al-Humoud stressed that the formation of a special ministry for youth was ordered by HH the Amir to take care of the issues and aspirations of the youth because PAYS Gulf Bank sponsors GUST Marketing Club was more concerned with sport competitions and activities. KUWAIT: Gulf Bank announced cial opening of the club took Director - Government, Najla Al-Essa, Executive Sheikha Jawaher passes away yesterday a year-long sponsor- place on June 9 2013 at GUST’s Parliament, Public & Media Manager, Products & Segments at ship of the students’ Marketing premises by Sheikh Talal Al-Khalid Relations and Najla Al-Essa, Gulf Bank said: “Gulf Bank’s spon- KUWAIT: The Amiri Diwan mourned the Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Sabah. Sheikh Jawaher Club at Gulf University for Science Al-Sabah, Kuwait Petroleum Executive Manager, Products and sorship of GUST’s Marketing Club death of Sheikha Jawaher Al-Malik Al- died at the age of 69 years and will be laid and Technology (GUST). The offi- Company’s (KPC) Managing Segments at Gulf Bank. falls under its Corporate Social Sabah, widow of Sheikh Al-Malik to rest today morning, 09.00 am.—KUNA Responsibility (CSR) strategy which is committed to youth development by assisting bright KPC reshuffles boards and enthusiastic young students with the necessary knowledge and practical skills for them to of several subsidiaries succeed in their future careers. “ KUWAIT: The Kuwait Petroleum Sabah said the boards reshuffle is meant to The Marketing Club is a newly Corporation Board of Directors decided to cope with the commercial companies law, established students club that reshuffle boards of several subsidiaries and raise efficiency of targeted boards and focuses on helping marketing to appoint two new deputies of managing uphold the concept of good governance. and management students in directors for the parent company. He unveiled that the KPC Board has their studies by assisting them to The decision was taken by KPC Board at approved the appointment of Khaled Al- improve their overall understand- a meeting here yesterday under the chair- Ojael as managing director for financial ing of marketing. During this manship of KPC Deputy Board Chairman affairs and Bassem Al-Issa as managing year, Gulf Bank will be present on and Chief Executive Officer Nizar Al-Adsani. director for training. Moreover, Ahmed the university campus, promoting In statements to KUNA, Chairman of Almudhaf will be moved to the Kuwait its red(tm) youth program which Kuwait Oil Tanker Company and KPC International Petroleum Company, Sheikh caters to university and college Managing Director for Government, Talal stated. Sheikh Talal added that the students in Kuwait. Students who Parliamentary, Public Relations and Media KPC Board also merged a number of are aged 17 to 24 years can open Affairs Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Ahmad Al- departments to avoid duplication.— KUNA a red(tm) account, which requires no deposit and is available for both current and savings TEC, VIVA celebrate accounts with monthly interest payments. World Blood Donor Day KUWAIT: The Touristic Enterprises Company organized an event on Friday in cooperation with VIVA Telecom to celebrate the World Blood Donor Day at the 25 Voluntary Club of the Kuwait Organ Transplant Society. “The World Blood Donor Day is an occasion celebrated by organizations around the world, including the World Health Organization, which motivated us to host the event at the square near the Kuwait Towers,” TEC Public Relations and Marketing Manager Huda Al-Saleh said. Al-Saleh added that the TEC “organized several successful blood donation cam- paigns at its facilities around Kuwait.” Huda Al-Saleh Govt urged to ‘correct democratic path’ KUWAIT: Former MP Marzouq Al-Ghanim urged announced that its plans to boycott the election the government to “take all necessary steps to will remain on even if the electoral system is apply the correctives to the democratic path in upheld by the court. In the meantime, many Kuwait.” The statement came a day before the argued that work proceeded at a snail’s pace in Constitutional Court is set to pronounce its rul- the parliament last week due to the fact that ing on the constitutionality of the electoral law’s MPs were busy anticipating the ruling.
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