Kuwait City: Kuwait Emir on Thursday asked outgoing Prime Minister Shaikh Jaber Mubarak Al Sabah to form a new cabinet, the official Kuna news agency reported citing a decree.
Gulf | Kuwait
Kuwait emir asks outgoing PM Jaber to form cabinet
New legislative polls in Kuwait expected
- AFP
- Published: 00:00 July 6, 2012
- Image Credit: AFP
- Kuwaiti Prime Minister Shaikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah arrives at the Saudi embassy in Kuwait City.
Shaikh Jaber, a senior member of the ruling Al Sabah family, resigned last week days after the constitutional court nullified February legislative polls, scrapping the opposition-controlled parliament.
The court also reinstated the previous pro-government parliament which was dissolved last December following youth-led protests over allegations of two major corruption scandals involving former MPs and officials.
The unprecedented court ruling sparked protests by thousands of Kuwaitis who called for a constitutional monarchy and a full parliamentary system.
The new cabinet is expected to recommend to Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah to dissolve the reinstated parliament and call for fresh polls in an attempt to resolve the political crisis.
The outgoing cabinet was formed just over four months ago after February’s parliamentary election, which saw the Islamist-led opposition score an impressive victory and secure a majority.
Related Links
- Parliament to convene after cabinet formation
- The quiet influence of Kuwait’s Salafis
- Ex-Kuwaiti lawmaker Al Qitami dead
- Kuwaitis praise call to treat helpers fairly
- Kuwaiti Guantanamo detainee charges dropped
- Kuwaiti activist laid to rest amid tributes
- Kuwait emir accepts cabinet resignation
- Kuwait liberals call for wide-ranging reforms
It was the ninth cabinet to resign in Kuwait since February 2006. Two of the cabinet’s 16 ministers had been forced to quit under pressure from MPs, while a third minister resigned.
Shaikh Jaber, 69, had replaced Shaikh Nasser Mohammad Al Ahmad Al Sabah, another senior member of the ruling family, who stepped down in November following street protests over corruption allegations.
Kuwait, Opec’s fourth largest crude producer, has been rocked by a series of political crises over the past six years, which have seen nine cabinets resign and parliament dissolved five times.
The emirate, which says it sits on around 10 per cent of global oil reserves, pumps around three million barrels per day of oil. It has a native population of 1.2 million in addition to 2.5 million foreign residents.
Kuwait
Kuwait suspends executives over Dow payment
Kuwait gives $15m for Syria’s Palestinians
Rights body lauds Kuwait for spiking media law
Kuwaiti player dies after taking energy drinks
Kuwait court acquits two bloggers
Kuwait bars expats from public hospitals
Kuwait’s political situation shrouded in mystery
Kuwait court adjourns blogger’s trial
More from Gulf
News Editor's choice
-
Cyclone clean-up starts in Bangladesh
Limited damage as storm weakens after making landfall
-
Cut hunger by half by 2015, says UN group
Hunger rates decreased globally and increased in the Mena region, expert says
-
Pakistan mosque bomb blasts kill 13
Explosives detonated by remote control
-
Philippine workers in Taiwan told to lie low
Envoy warns compatriots living in Taiwan to avoid public places amid diplomatic row