New Kuwaiti emir Meshal slams parliament, cabinet undermining national interests
Kuwait’s 17th ruler, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmed al-Sabah, officially assumed the throne on Wednesday, delivering a scathing critique of the parliament and cabinet for undermining national interests.
Sheikh Meshal succeeds his late half-brother, Sheikh Nawaf, who passed away on Saturday, inheriting the monumental task of rescuing Kuwait from enduring political paralysis and addressing issues plaguing the public sector.
The 83-year-old ruler minced no words as he emphasized the need to fulfill national obligations, expressing disappointment at the lack of change or correction from the parliamentary and cabinet fronts.
“We have not noticed any change or correction,” he lamented, asserting that these entities had, instead, “harmed the interests of the people and the country.”
Meshal’s predecessor faced a turbulent rule marked by a prolonged political standoff, leading to multiple parliament dissolutions and cabinet resignations.
The new emir underscored concerns about public appointments and promotions that fail to meet basic standards of justice and fairness. In response, he pledged to temporarily halt promotions and new appointments, building on a December 5 decree for a three-month pause in state hiring.
Following the address, the government promptly submitted its resignation, a procedural move paving the way for the appointment of a new prime minister. Kuwait, possessing seven percent of the world’s crude reserves, has a robust parliamentary system but grapples with persistent disputes between elected lawmakers and the ruling
Al-Sabah family, impeding essential economic reforms and exacerbating budget deficits.
Bader al-Saif, a Kuwait University professor, lauded Sheikh Meshal’s address as “one of the strongest first speeches given by an incoming ruler,” particularly highlighting the unprecedented rebuke of the government and parliament.
As Sheikh Meshal assumes his role, his initial challenges include selecting a crown prince and a prime minister, crucial decisions that will shape relations with the opposition-led parliament, renowned as the most active in the Gulf.
The new emir, who served extensively in Kuwait’s security and intelligence apparatus, including as deputy chief of the Kuwait National Guard from 2004 to 2020, will be closely watched as he navigates the complex task of steering Kuwait into a new era while grappling with pressing political and economic issues.
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