Kuwait has entered a new crisis on the back of unwavering competition between the legislative and executive branches. Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah on 17 February accepted the joint resignations of defense and interior ministers Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al Ali Al Sabah and Sheikh Ahmed Mansour Al Ahmed Al Sabah. This came just a little more than a month after Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah’s new cabinet was sworn in at the end of last year (MEES, 7 January).
Traditionally Kuwaiti cabinets are headed by members of the royal family who also snag key ministerial positions. But the petro-emirate also has the longest running parliamentary tradition in the GCC. The Kuwaiti legislature – or Majlis al Umma – has powers to question ministers and officials in addition to approving laws and imposing votes of no confidence. There had been hopes that this fourth Sabah Al-Khalid cabinet could enjoy cordial relations with the opposition after the Emir pardoned key opposition MPs (MEES, 12 November 2021). The new cabinet also included three opposition MPs. (CONTINUED - 453 WORDS)