More recently, Thamer dispatched security forces into malls amidst the trend of civilian brawls, before tackling another case of local extremists in a show of law enforcement. Public doubts surrounding the cabinet remain far from dispelled. Al-Saleh was twice submitted to a confidence vote by the previous Assembly when he was Minister of Interior.
He was embroiled, notably, in an espionage scandal related to the surveillance of prominent personalities. Despite recent warnings by the newly elected MP Bader Al-Dahum to interrogate Al-Saleh upon his return, his cabinet designation was seen as an act of government defiance.
Another disputable appointment was the Minister of Justice, Nawaf Al-Yasin, due to his previous stance against the opposition movement. The new government continued to operate under scrutiny after the parliamentary sessions commenced on December 15 because of its support for Marzouq Al-Ghanim. A hindrance to the political opposition, Al-Ghanim was expected to fail in his bid for re-election as Speaker, as more than 40 newly elected MPs had declared their support for an alternative candidate, Bader Al-Humaidi.
Since the vote was secret, the results revealed that around 13 members did not fulfil their promises by defecting to vote for Al-Ghanim. As cabinet ministers have the right to vote on different issues in parliament, their votes 14 ministers participated in the session also tipped the equation in favour of Al-Ghanim. As a result, PM Sabah Al-Khalid came under fire for refusing to acknowledge public sentiment by supporting a controversial politician.
What started out as an Emiri call for harmony between governmental branches eventually led to a significantly weakened position of the Prime Minister. Corruption and the economic crunch remain the two chief priorities facing the Kuwaiti leadership. The new leader comes to power at a time when Kuwait is facing the highest budget deficit in its history, brought on by the drop in oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic.
A potential solution to its brewing liquidity crisis has been blocked by parliamentary opposition to a law that would allow the government to borrow, as other Gulf nations have done in response to the dual crisis. The elected parliament is often filled with populist independents who butt heads with governments they accuse of being too soft on corruption.
The new leader also recently received proposals for political and economic reforms from two opposition politicians. The meetings came ahead of crucial parliamentary elections later this year. The opposition has boycotted parliamentary polls since December , when the electoral law was amended at the order of the former emir. While foreign policy is unlikely to change under Nawaf, OPEC member Kuwait may lose gravitas internationally, two sources close to the ruling family and one of the diplomats said.
Sheikh Nawaf largely kept a low profile as crown prince and also during previous roles as defence minister, at the time of the invasion, and interior minister.
He had been widely perceived as a surprise choice by the emir in the succession line in , and a reluctant ruler, who was encouraged to accept the role by senior members of the year-old Al Sabah dynasty, said the diplomat. Diplomats and analysts expect he will delegate a larger portion of state affairs to his crown prince because of his low-key style and his age. Although he leaves behind a mixed legacy, he and Nelson Mandela were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work in ending the apartheid regime and steering the country onto the path towards democracy.
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