Kuwait names new Cabinet amid political, financial troubles

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Kuwait’s ruling emir announced the formation of a new Cabinet on Tuesday, breaking a monthlong deadlock with the nomination of 15 new government ministers who will have to address a series of political and financial difficulties.

The new Cabinet of Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah represents the Gulf Arab state’s fourth government over the last year and a half alone.

Kuwait has struggled to defuse a standoff between members of the Gulf ’s only elected parliament and an emirappointed government.

The dispute has delayed an overhaul of Kuwait’s welfare system and prevented the sheikhdom from taking on debt – leaving it with little in its coffers to pay bloated public sector salaries.