Kuwait’s new emir told the government to stay in office until elections next month after the prime minister offered to resign, as is the custom when a new emir is appointed.
Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah met with Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah on Tuesday. At the start of the meeting, the prime minister offered to resign. However, the emir “affirmed high confidence in the current government to continue carrying out its tasks and performing the constitutional duties and completing the preparation for the upcoming legislative elections,” the state-run Kuwait News Agency reported.
Kuwait has a parliament that is voted on by citizens and a government that is headed by the prime minister, who is appointed by the emir. Prime ministers traditionally offer to resign in Kuwait when a new emir takes power to allow them to appoint a new head of government, according to The Associated Press.
Kuwait will hold parliamentary elections on Nov. 28. The government is unpopular with some in the country due to its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The Associated Press. Last month, major international credit rating agency Moody’s downgraded Kuwait, indicating decreased confidence in the Gulf country’s ability to pay back its debt. Moody’s still considers Kuwait “stable,” however.
Sabah became emir late last month following the death of his brother and longtime ruler, Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah. The late Sabah served as foreign minister for decades before becoming emir in 2006, and was respected by many world leaders, including regional rivals.
In his first speech as emir last week, Sabah stressed national unity.
Courtesy – Al-Monitor
