Amir asks sitting Cabinet to stay on

This news has been read 29098 times!

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 6, (Agencies): His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah has asked the Cabinet to continue performing its duties despite the prime minister’s offer to resign, the state-run news agency reported Tuesday.

HH the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah meets HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah

The Prime Minister and his Cabinet made the offer in a nod to the new Amir giving him the chance to appoint a replacement as custom dictates. But Sheikh Nawaf “affirmed his great confidence” in the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, according to Kuwait’s state-run news agency, KUNA. He asked the same government to “continue carrying out its tasks” ahead of parliamentary elections tentatively set for late November.

The move may signal Sheikh Nawaf’s desire to follow the political path charted by his predecessor, the late Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and also allows Kuwait to avoid the difficulties of forming a new government ahead of elections, when the Cabinet will end its term anyway. Parliament Speaker Marzouq al-Ghanim announced that the legislature would dissolve itself Thursday to set the stage for elections, according to the al-Qabas newspaper.

Despite Sheikh Nawaf’s high praise for the current Cabinet, 10 lawmakers last month submitted a no-confidence motion against Kuwait’s deputy prime minister and interior minister amid growing dissatisfaction over the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and budgetary problems. Kuwait’s treasury is running out of cash, prompting a major credit agency last month to downgrade the wealthy country for the first time in its history.

As crown prince, Sheikh Nawaf was not known for making any major policy decisions, and at age 83, his greatest impact may be in his choice of a successor. Following the death of Sheikh Sabah, who commanded great respect in the region as a seasoned diplomat, speculation has mounted over the next crown prince, especially as top contenders in the past have feuded over corruption allegations.

The Amir has a full year to select the crown prince, but Tuesday’s statement from al-Ghanim, the Parliament Speaker, suggested the decision may be discussed during the final legislative session this week. Kuwait stands out among other monarchies in the Arabian Gulf for its empowered and outspoken Parliament, which can reject the Amir’s pick

This news has been read 29098 times!

Related Articles

Back to top button

Advt Blocker Detected

Kindly disable the Ad blocker

Verified by MonsterInsights