By NNN-KUNA
Kuwait : The Kuwaiti cabinet has approved the publication of a decree inviting voters to the National Assembly (parliamentary) elections on April 13, Deputy Premier and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Faisal Al-Hajji Bukhadhour said.
The decree will be published by the official gazette Kuwait Al-Youm, he told KUNA following the weekly cabinet meeting at the Al-Sief Palace here Monday.
The publication of the decree will pave the way for candidates to apply to contest in the 2008 parliamentary elections in line with Article 20 of the Electoral Act 35 for 1962, he said.
The applications can be accepted by the electoral committees of the five constituencies nationwide during the following 10 days, from April 14 to 23, Bukhadhour said.
Meanwhile, the cabinet approved a decree allowing voters to use the nationality certificate instead of the voting card.
The move, an exemption of Article 27 of the Electoral Act, aims to avoid complicated red tape relating to the issuance of a voting card and facilitate the electoral process.
It takes into account the fact that many voters have yet to receive their voting cards, Bukhadhour said.
On March 24, the cabinet approved a decree inviting eligible voters to cast their votes in the parliamentary elections, slated for May 17.
However, it decided to postpone the publication of the decree in the gazette to no longer than April 17 to allow hopeful candidates decide their positions.
The Emir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah decided on March 19 to dissolve the National Assembly and hold new parliamentary elections within the following two months in line with the constitution.