By NNN-KUNA
Kuwait : The Kuwaiti National Assembly (Parliament) on Tuesday approved, in the first reading, a draft bill for regulating elections, electoral headquarters and elections propaganda.
Forty-seven MPs, out of 49 attending the session supported the bill.
The Parliament will vote on the bill Wednesday after second reading and discussions of proposed amendments.
Commenting on the bill, the Parliament Interior and Defense Committee said in a report that there should not be any street advertisements launched by a candidate but only one collective ad in the city for which the Interior Ministry will be responsible.
In addition, each candidate will have one electoral headquarters and not one in each area. The committee proposed using certain schools where candidates can meet and talk to their fans as part of their election campaigns. Agreeing with the after agreeing Ministries of Education and Social affairs and Labor will be essential.
Part of the campaign, a candidate can launch his campaign ads through the press, TV and SMSs, but there will be no ads in the streets as they in order not to cause damage to the state property of block the traffic.
According to the bill, the Kuwait Municipality is responsible for removing the illegal ads and costs to be paid by the violator candidate.
During Tuesday’s discussions some MPs proposed KD 3,000 fine on violators. Others said one elections headquarters would not be enough, for there are populous areas that require more than on headquarters.