Saudi king appoints his son new crown prince in shakeup
BEIRUT— Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Wednesday appointed his 31year-old son, Mohammed bin Salman, as crown prince, replacing the country’s counterterrorism czar with the young activist leader at a time when the kingdom is struggling with low oil prices, a diplomatic crisis in Qatar, war in Yemen and a battle with Iran for regional influence.
“The prince is seen as the new public face of Saudi Arabia: He’s young, he’s charismatic, he’s ambitious,” said Fawaz Gerges, a professor of international relations at the London School of Economics. “He appeals to many young Saudis, who see in him an image of themselves. If you travel in the kingdom, his image is everywhere.”
The decision to replace the previous crown prince, Mohammed bin Nayef, 58, with his younger cousin was announced by royal decree via the state-run Saudi Press Agency.
It was expected to put to rest speculation and dissent among the royal family concerning the younger prince, a rising star who has been accumulating power since his father, 81, ascended the throne two years ago. Last month, he met with U.S. President Donald Trump and other regional leaders during a summit in Riyadh. Mohammed bin Nayef, who studied at the FBI and Scotland Yard’s anti-terrorism institute, had worked closely with U.S. officials after the Sept. 11 attacks, to share intelligence and prevent terrorist strikes.
But his profile slipped in recent years after he was wounded in a 2009 assassination attempt.
Saudi news agencies played down the possibility of any turmoil associ- ated with Wednesday’s news, noting a majority of a council of senior princes approved the appointment and broadcasting video of the former crown prince pledging his allegiance. But succession is key in Saudi Arabia, which remains one of the world’s few absolute monarchies, with all major decisions made by the king.
Now, Gerges said, “there’s no longer any ambiguity about who calls the shots.”
After the announcement, Saudi Arabia’s stock market was up by more than 3.5 per cent in midday trading.
Those who have worked with the new crown prince praise him as hardworking and detail-oriented with a penchant for technology and rapidly implementing changes that at times rankle the historically conservative kingdom.
He also caused some controversy in the past with outrageous statements and lavish spending — publicly offering Kanye West $13 million for a night with Kim Kardashian, and buying a $721-million yacht on impulse while vacationing in southern France.
He managed to counter some of that criticism by remaining true to his roots.
The crown prince was educated entirely in the kingdom, unusual among the country’s elite. He is a family man who wears traditional clothing and conducts interviews in Arabic.