Kuwaiti government’s resignation accepted
Having the entire government leave seemed a better option in the long run
Dark political clouds are again looming large over Kuwait after the government resigned yesterday and Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad accepted the resignation of the cabinet led by Prime Minister Shaikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah.
“The premier and ministers will proceed amid the urgent circumstances as a caretaker cabinet, pending the formation of a new cabinet ,” the Emiri order said, according to Kuwait News Agency (Kuna).
The resignation of the government had been expected after lawmakers last week filed a no-confidence motion against State Minister for Cabinet Affairs and Acting Minister of Information Shaikh Mohammad Abdullah Al Sabah following a lengthy grilling session over alleged administrative and financial irregularities, which he vehemently denied.
In the run-up to the resignation, several Kuwaitis predicted only Shaikh Mohammad would leave the government and avoid the no-confidence session, allowing the other ministers to keep their portfolios.
However, amid the tension that has prevailed lately in relations between the executive and legislative branches and the “ominous” prospects of more motions to grill ministers, having the entire government leave seemed a better option in the long run.
The parliament, elected in November last year, includes several lawmakers who had run on promises to keep pressure on the government and boost or at least retain existing privileges for citizens, despite the economic challenges facing Kuwait in the wake of the dramatic drop in the price of oil recently.
Tension also increased after the parliament and the government failed to reach satisfactory agreements on several issues, including the reinstatement of revoked citizenships.
Some lawmakers warned the alternations of parliaments being dissolved and governments resigning could eventually make people doubt the merit of democratic practices.
The government did not complete one full year; it was appointed on November 30 last year.
Shaikh Jaber is largely expected to form the new cabinet amid speculation that the process would take more than three weeks since there is no specific timeframe for the formation of a government following its resignation.