Manama: Kuwait’s government has resigned at the end of an emergency session headed by the Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah.
The resignation was expected amid reports that at least three ministers said on Sunday evening that they would quit the government.
According to initial reports in the northern Arabian Gulf state, Jasem Al Khorafi, the parliament speaker, said that he had not been informed that the parliament would be dissolved.
The opposition has been pushing for the resignation of the government and the dissolution of the parliament and said that it would hold a massive rally on Monday evening.
Analysts said that the non-dissolution of the parliament would not solve the worsening political crisis gripping the nation where more than a dozen MPs are being investigated for allegedly receiving huge amounts of money in their bank accounts.
Three opposition lawmakers had filed to grill the prime minister over the issue.
Quick facts
The resignation is accepted. However, the parliament continues to hold its sessions as its dissolution requires a decree submitted by the government to the Emir and the caretaker government cannot do it.
In case there is a tendency to dissolve the parliament constitutionally, the current government continues its work until new parliamentary elections are held within two months of the dissolution decree. The government then submits its resignation to the Emir who appoints the prime minister.
The non-constitutional dissolution of the parliament is based on suspending articles of the constitution. However, such an option could result in new political crises far deeper and more complex than the one gripping Kuwait.
In the fourth scenario, the government's resignation is rejected. The government and the parliament remain in place, which means a deepening of the political tension and the showdown between them. However, this option seems slim after reports that three ministers have insisted on quitting the government
