KUWAIT CITY –
Kuwait has formed a new cabinet headed by Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Sabah, according to a royal decree issued Sunday.
Emad al al-Atiqi, Anwar Ali al-Mudhaf and Abdullah Ali al-Yahya retained their posts as oil, finance and foreign ministers respectively, according to the decree from the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Sheikh Ahmad is the emir’s nephew and was previously appointed prime minister in April.
“The prime minister and the ministers must implement this decree,” stated Sheikh Mishal in the decree.
The new government comes shortly after the emir dissolved parliament indefinitely on Friday, after a prolonged period of bickering between the government and the elected parliament.
The emir also suspended some articles of the constitution, including those stating that a new parliament must be elected within two months of a dissolution and that laws must be approved by the parliament and the emir.
“The unhealthy atmosphere experienced by Kuwait in previous years has encouraged the spread of corruption to reach most state facilities and unfortunately it reached the security and economic institutions,” the emir said, adding that “it has even affected the justice system.”
“We have faced difficulties and obstacles that cannot be tolerated,” he said.
The powers of the National Assembly would be assumed by the emir and the country’s cabinet, state TV reported at the time.
The changes give Emir Al-Sabah full control over new legislation.
The articles would be suspended for a period not exceeding four years, during which all aspects of the democratic process would be studied, according to the emir’s order.
It was the second time that the emir has dissolved the parliament this year.
The emir explained his moves, saying that the failure to form a government was the result of “the dictates and conditions of some” legislators.
“Kuwait has been through some hard times lately … which leaves no room for hesitation or delay in making the difficult decision to save the country and secure its highest interests,” Sheikh Mishal said.
The legislature in Kuwait has wielded more influence than similar bodies in other Gulf monarchies and political deadlock had for decades led to cabinet reshuffles and dissolutions of parliament.
