Familiar figures remain in post after Kuwaiti Cabinet reshuffle
Kuwait’s oil, finance and foreign ministers retained their posts as Emir Sheikh Nawaf approved the country’s new Cabinet, state news reported.
The previous government resigned in January following a stand-off with Parliament that posed the first big political challenge to the emir since he assumed power in September.
Oil Minister Mohammad Al Fares, Finance Minister Khalifa Hamade, and Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al Sabah were reappointed.
The previous government’s resignation came after more than 30 members of parliament in the 65-seat assembly supported a motion to question Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid on matters that included his choice of ministers.
Since being reappointed prime minister on January 24, a post he has held since late 2019, Sheikh Sabah has held consultations with parliamentary blocs.
“The coming period requires co-operation with the legislative authority and the meetings brought points of view closer together,” the Kuna news agency quoted the prime minister as saying.
He stressed the need to agree on a package of legislation, resolving “some political files” and uniting efforts to tackle “financial and administrative corruption” whether inside or outside the government apparatus, Kuna said.
A priority is overcoming gridlock on debt legislation that would allow Opec member Kuwait to tap into international markets to address liquidity problems caused by low oil prices and the coronavirus.
MPs opposed to the bill called for clarity on government plans to reduce reliance on oil exports.
Frequent disputes and deadlocks between the appointed Cabinet and elected assembly have led to successive government reshuffles and dissolutions of Parliament, hampering investment and economic and fiscal reform.
Last month, Sheikh Nawaf, who has the final say on state affairs, issued a decree suspending parliamentary sessions for a month from February 18.
Kuwait’s previous government resigned in January following a parliamentary stand-off