Emir Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah has issued a decree forming a new government under the chairmanship of Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who was appointed Prime Minister on April 15.
According to the emir's decree, disseminated by the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA, several officials retained their positions in the new cabinet: Fahad Yousef Saud al-Sabah remains as the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior; Imad Mohammed Abdulaziz al-Atiqi continues as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil; Abdullah Ali Abdullah al-Yahya remains as the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Anwar Ali Abdullah Al-Mudhaf continues as the Minister of Finance and State Minister for Economic Affairs and Investments; Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi remains as the Minister of Information and Culture; Ahmed Al-Awadhi continues as the Minister of Health; Adel Al-Adwani continues as the Minister of Higher Education and Enlightenment; and Noura al-Mashaan retains her position as the Minister of Social Affairs and State Minister for Municipal Affairs.
Another Deputy Prime Minister appointed is Sharida Abdullah Saad Al-Muasherji who will also serve as the State Minister for Cabinet Affairs. Omar Saud Abdel Aziz al-Umar will become the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mohamed Ibrahim Mohammed al-Wasmi will become the Minister of Justice and Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, and Mahmoud Abdulaziz Mahmoud Boushahri will become the Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, and the State Minister for Housing Affairs. Hadi Haif Al-Huwayla will serve as the Minister of Social Affairs, Labor, Family Affairs and Children and Minister of State for Youth Affairs. The position of State Minister for National Assembly Affairs (the unicameral parliament) is not provided for in the new government lineup.
The emir's decree will enter into force after publication in the official government newspaper "Al-Kuwait Al-Yaum".
The previous government resigned immediately after the parliamentary elections held on April 4. The resignation of the government after the election of a new parliament is provided for by Article 57 of the Kuwaiti Constitution. It was expected that the composition of the new government would be announced on April 17 at the first parliamentary session, which was repeatedly postponed by the Emir's decision. On May 10, Sheikh Mashal announced the dissolution of the National Assembly and the suspension of certain provisions of the Constitution "for a period not exceeding four years, during which all aspects of the democratic process will be studied". According to KUNA, the powers of the parliament will temporarily pass to the Emir and the Cabinet of Ministers.
Parliamentary Elections in Kuwait
Extraordinary elections to the Kuwaiti parliament were held in early April, becoming the first during the reign of the current Emir, who ascended the throne in December 2023 after the death of his elder brother, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah. Sheikh Mishal dissolved the previous parliament on February 15 for "violating constitutional principles" and "using offensive and inappropriate language." The Emir's decree did not specify how parliamentarians violated these principles or to whom they directed offensive language.
The parliament in Kuwait has more influence than in other Persian Gulf monarchies, so the stability of the political system traditionally depends on how effectively the legislative and executive branches of power interact. Political parties are banned in the country, but there are public associations, including opposition ones. Formally, candidates for deputies run as independents, but most of them represent the interests of public organizations, religious communities, or tribes.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Jennifer Poole/PxHere
Based on materials from TASS