Kuwait swears in new cabinet amid deepening political crisis

Kuwait’s new cabinet has been sworn in, weeks after ministers tendered resignations en masse amid a deepening deadlock with the parliament.

According to Press TV, the official ceremony took place on Wednesday after Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah swapped out at least four ministers whose selection had prompted anger among some lawmakers.

In his speech at the ceremony, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmed al-Sabah, the emir of Kuwait, urged unity at the time of crisis.

“You have tremendous responsibilities, particularly at this important stage, and I’m sure that you … can work collectively in the spirit of a single team,” the emir told the ministers.

The government said in mid-January that it had submitted its resignation “in light of developments in the relationship between the National Assembly and the government.”

Sheikh Nawaf suspended the parliament last month until mid-March amid growing tensions over cabinet appointments. The lawmakers moved to question the premier over the cabinet makeup.

The worsening rift between the emir-appointed government and elected parliament presents the first significant challenge to Sheikh Nawaf, who ascended the throne late last year.

The infighting diminished public confidence and hastened the worst debt crisis since the 1990 Iraqi invasion.

As Kuwait’s general reserve fund runs out of cash, lawmakers, skeptical of deep-rooted corruption, have prevented the government from borrowing in response to the coronavirus pandemic and low crude prices.

ME