Kuwait announces new government
Amir approves formation
KUWAIT CITY, Dec 28, (KUNA): His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Dar Yamamah on Tuesday His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah who handed him the proposed names for the new Cabinet formation.
His Highness the Amir approved the formation and wished His Highness the Prime Minister the best in serving the people and residents of Kuwait. He hoped that the executive and legislative powers would cooperate for the sake of Kuwait’s development and welfare.
His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al Jaber Al-Sabah also received His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, who presented the list of ministers in the new Cabinet to His Highness.
The Cabinet line-up as contained in the first article of the Amiri order, and headed by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, includes the following:
1 - Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.
2 - Ahmad Mansour Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
3 - Dr. Mohammad Abdullatif AlFares – Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Oil, and Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy.
4 - Issa Ahmad Al-Kandari – Minister of Awqaf (Endowment) and Islamic Affairs.
5 - Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs.
6 - Dr. Rana Abdullah Al-Fares – Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology.
7 - Dr. Ali Fahad Al-Mudhaf – Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
8 - Justice Jamal Hadhel Al-Jalwai – Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Nazaha (Integrity) Enhancement.
9 - Dr. Hamad Ahmad Rouhaddeen – Minister of Information and Minister of Culture.
10 - Dr. Khaled Mhawes Al-Saeed – Minister of Health.
11 - Abduwahab Mohammad AlRushaid – Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment.
12 - Ali Hussein Al-Mousa -- Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Youth Affairs.
13 - Fahad Mutlaq Al-Shurai’an – Minister of Commerce and Industry.
14 - Mubarak Zaid Al-Mutairi – Minister of Social Affairs and Community Development, Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Urban Development.
15 - Mohammad Obaid Al-Rajhi – Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs.
According to the second article, His Highness the Prime Minister would be tasked with informing the National Assembly of the order effective on the date of issue.
Kuwait witnessed formation of 39 governments over 60 years, the last of which was the one formed on March second, 2021 headed by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and included 15 ministers.
The 38th cabinet line-up was put together after His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah tasked Sheikh Sabah Khaled to run it, but it was dissolved on November 18th.
The new government announcement came after an Amiri order assigning Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled as Prime Minister on November 23rd.
The following is a chornology of the numerous cabinets throughout Kuwait’s history.
Cabinets during the era of the Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah:
The first government, called the transitional cabinet and chaired by the late Amir Sheikh Abdullah AlSalem Al-Sabah, was formed on January 17, 1962. It consisted of 14 ministers, had a specific mandate for drafting a constitution, thus its tenure ended when this was accomplished on January 27, 1963.
The second government, formed on January 28th, 1963, was chaired by Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and consisted of 15 ministers. It continued until December fifth, 1964.
The third one, set up on December sixth, 1964, was chaired by Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem, consisting of 14 ministers, four of them were MPs.
This government survived for 28 days only because it failed to win confidence of the National Assembly due to constitutional measures regarding selection of some ministers.
Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem chaired the fourth government that was formed on January 3, 1965, and included 13 ministers.
Cabinets during the era of the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah:
The fifth government, formed on December fourth, 1965, was chaired by Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah. This cabinet grouped 13 ministers including three MPs.
It resigned in the end of the legislative term, February third, 1967.
The sixth Cabinet, formed on February fourth, 1967, was also chaired by Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. It consisted of 14 ministers including three MPs, served for four years until February 1971, at end of the parliamentary legislative term.
The seventh government, which also served a full four-year term, was formed on February second, 1971. Chaired by Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, this cabinet included 13 ministers.
Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad formed the following cabinet, the eighth, on February ninth, 1975. The 15-member cabinet. It ended its term a month after dissolution of the parliament in August 1976.
The ninth government, formed while the parliament was dissolved on September 6, 1976, was chaired by Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and consisted of 18 ministers. Its mandate ended in December 1978 after the passing away of then Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem AlSabah. Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, then Crown Prince and Prime Minister, was named as Amir.
Cabinets during the era of Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah:
The tenth government was formed on February 16, 1978. Then Crown Prince Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem AlSabah chaired the Cabinet. It consisted of 18 ministers and served until March third, 1981 when new elections were announced.
The 11th government, formed on March fourth, 1981, was chaired by Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, consisting of 15 ministers including one MP. It served a full four-year term up until March second, 1982, ahead of parliamentary elections.
The 12th government was formed on March third, 1985 and was chaired by Sheikh Saad.
The Cabinet served for 16 months only due to deterioration of relations between executive and legislative authorities that led to parliament’s dissolution in 1986, triggering the government’s resignation on July 11 of this year.
The 13th government was formed on the following day and consisted of 21 ministers.
Sheikh Saad formed the 14th government with 22 ministers on June 20th, 1990. This government continued in office despite the August second, 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, and was functioning from the Saudi City of Taef until the liberation in February 1991.
The 15th government, the first after liberation, was dubbed the “government of reconstruction.” It was formed on April 20 of 1991 and consisted of 20 ministers. It lasted until October 16, 1992, when new parliamentary elections were held.
The 16th government, formed on October 17th, 1992, was chaired by Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and consisted of 15 ministers including six MPs.
The 17th government was formed on October 15th, 1992. Chaired by Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah, the government consisted of 14 ministers including four MPs. The government resigned on March 21, 1998 after a no-confidence motion was tabled against then information minister Sheikh Saud Nasser Al-Sabah.
The following government, the 18th, was formed by Sheikh Saad on March 22nd, 1998. It served for 15 months and resigned on July 12th, 1999, in the wake of an Amiri Decree to dissolve the parliament.
The 19th cabinet, formed on July 13 of 1999, was chaired by Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah. The government resigned on January 2001 after relations with the parliament deteriorated when former MP Hussein Al-Qallaf requested interpellation of Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr. Saad Al-Hashel.
However, the Cabinet was formed by His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah because Sheikh Saad had to leave the country for treatment. Sheikh Sabah selected 15 ministers including three MPs.
The 21st government was formed on July 14th, 2003, by His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad because the post of Crown Prince was separated from the post of Prime Minister for the first time.