Kuwait formed a new government on 3 March, nearly two months after the previous body resigned on 12 January amid parliamentary pressure (MEES, 15 January). The appointment of Abdullah al-Roumi, a former deputy speaker of parliament, as Deputy PM and Minister of Justice was widely seen as a conciliatory move towards the legislative body.

However, any optimism was washed away on 14 March when the Constitutional Court ruled to annul the election of prominent opposition MP Bader al-Dahoum. The court cited a previous conviction for insulting the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah, despite this conviction having previously been overturned by the Appeals Court. The ruling has incensed opposition figures, and Gulf States Newsletter cites an opposition source suggesting the ruling came down from the office of Crown Prince Meshaal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. (CONTINUED - 163 WORDS)