Kuwait's Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah announced on Sunday that he would appoint a new parliament, days after dissolving the parliament elected just weeks earlier, amid continued political turmoil in the small Gulf nation. Signed an act authorizing the formation of a government.
The new government, Kuwait's 46th since 1962, is headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah and consists of 13 ministers. Nine of these ministers retain their posts from the previous government, including Oil Minister Imad al-Atiti, Finance Minister Anwar Ali al-Mudaf, and Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali al-Yahiya.
In a fiery move, Sheikh Mishal on Friday ordered the opposition-dominated parliament to be dissolved and suspended certain provisions of the constitution for a period not to exceed four years, during which he said all aspects of the democratic process would be reviewed. Ta.
In a speech broadcast on state television, the emir said Kuwait was facing “unimaginable and intolerable hardships and obstacles.”
“The recent turmoil in Kuwaiti politics has reached a stage where we cannot remain silent and we must take all necessary measures to achieve the best interests of the country and its people,” he said. . “I will never allow democracy to be misused to destroy our nation.”
According to the royal decree, seven articles have been suspended, including Article 107, which stipulates that a new parliament must be elected within two months of dissolution, and Article 181, which prohibits the suspension or exemption of the constitution. Member of Parliament.
The Decree also stated that during the transition period, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet would take over the powers of Parliament and laws would be promulgated by draft Decree.
Long-standing feud between parliament and government
Kuwait has been plagued by political strife for many years, with repeated dissolution of parliament and reorganization of the government.
The now-dissolved parliament was elected in early April. This will be the third election since 2022 and the fourth in the last five years. Parliament has been dissolved 12 times since 2005, most recently in February.
Lawmakers have repeatedly accused ministers of corruption, and the cabinet has accused parliament of blocking the country's development plans.
Frequent political squabbles between lawmakers and government officials are hampering fiscal and economic reforms as the oil-rich Gulf states seek to diversify their economies.
The tug-of-war also blocked a bill that would have allowed Kuwait to enter international bond markets.
Kuwait is a major oil producer with a production capacity of 3.15 million barrels per day and 8.2% of the world's oil reserves, according to OPEC data.
On April 15, Sheikh Mishal appointed his nephew Sheikh Ahmed as prime minister and tasked with forming a new government.
However, tensions between parliamentarians and the executive branch have stalled the formation of a new cabinet.
In a speech on Friday, Sheikh Mishal accused some MPs of refusing to nominate certain ministers, stressing that it is the constitutional right of the head of state to choose the prime minister and cabinet.
“We have reached a point where violations of the Constitution can never be tolerated because they risk undermining the values of the Constitution and the principles of democracy,” he said.
The emir also accused some officials, whom he did not name, of interfering in the selection of the crown prince. “Some people even interfered with the powers of the emir, including the right to choose the crown prince,” it added, adding that the emir holds this right exclusively.
Sheikh Mishal, who took power in December after the death of his predecessor and half-brother Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, has not yet named a crown prince.
Kuwait is the only Gulf monarchy with an elected parliament. The parliament known as the National Assembly was established in 1963 and is made up of 50 members who serve four-year terms. Parliament has the power to question and submit no-confidence motions against ministers, and it also has the power to approve the appointment of a new crown prince by the head of state.
Laws are also approved by parliament and the chief executive.
