KUWAIT CITY, Feb 8: HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah has started consultations on the formation of the new Cabinet with prominent personalities in the country, such as former ministers and lawmakers, to gauge if they are ready to be part of the new government, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily quoting sources.
Sources revealed the prime minister will continue consultations in the next two days and rumor has it that some of those being considered for various ministerial posts include Hani Hussein, Adel Al-Ibrahim, Abdulmohsen Al-Med’ij, Walid Al-Jerri and Meshari Al-Anjeri.
Meanwhile, Alam Alyawm daily has quoted sources as saying that Sheikh Jaber is considering former Chief of Joint Staff retired Major General Ahmad Al-Khalid as defense minister, while Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid will most likely retain his post as deputy premier and foreign affairs minister. Sources said Sheikh Thamer Jaber Al-Ahmad will be in charge of a service ministry and there is a probability that Sheikh Dr Mohammad Al-Sabah will not return to the government.
Sources added Dr Mohammad Al-Afasi will be appointed deputy premier and state minister for Cabinet Affairs, while Dr Fadhel Safar will stay in the Ministry of Public Works and Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali as information minister. Meanwhile, some MPs, who are strong and wise, are keen on realizing their objectives and fulfilling the promises they made to the people during the campaign period, reports Al-Seyassah daily quoting MP Abdulhamid Al-Dashti.
Al-Dashti pointed out the actual work will begin on the day the new Parliament meets its executive counterpart. He said all hands are open to welcome the newly elected MPs regardless of their affiliations and ideologies. He affirmed the MPs have reached an agreement to shun irregularities and help the prime minister choose the best Cabinet members for the country to achieve its development goals.
According to Al-Dashti, he and several other MPs have asked the premier not to release those proven to be involved in the storming of the Parliament building and Syrian Embassy, as well as those who set fire to the election campaign tent of MP Mohammad Al-Juwaihal, because Kuwait is not a jungle that has no rules.
In another development, MP Musallam Al-Barrak urged HH Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to appoint former lawmaker Dr Hassan Al-Jowhar as a minister, reports Al-Anba daily.
He made this request in front of the house of Al-Jowhar where more than 10,000 citizens gathered and presented him with flowers.
He informed that he received an invitation to attend a special gathering in honor of the former lawmaker. He also described Al-Jowhar as an honest, dedicated and patriotic citizen.