Kuwaiti government resignation accepted by Emiri decree

Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al Sabah's government will continue in caretaker role until new cabinet is formed

Kuwait Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah's government will continue in a caretaker role until a new cabinet is formed. AP

The resignation of Kuwait's government was accepted on Thursday in an Emiri decree, state news agency Kuna reported.

The decree accepting the government’s resignation was issued by Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al Sabah, as part of constitutional powers he was granted by the Emir in late 2021.

The government under Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah will continue in a caretaker role until a new cabinet is formed.

Sheikh Ahmad submitted his cabinet’s resignation earlier this week after weeks of tension with the National Assembly over requests to question two cabinet ministers.

MP Jenan Boushehri sought to question Cabinet Affairs Minister Barak Al Shaitan over his alleged "abuse of power" and assigning of leadership roles to unqualified individuals, while opposition MP Mubarak Al Hajraf asked to interrogate Finance Minister Abdulwahab Al Rushaid over alleged mismanagement of public funds .

Kuwaiti MPs last week offered to withdraw a controversial loan relief bill that led to deadlock with the government — provided ministers raise wages in the country in return.

The draft bill would force the government to purchase several billion Kuwaiti dinars worth of citizens' consumer and personal loans.

The government says the move would be too expensive, costing almost $46 billion in public funds. MPs say it would cost less than $6.5 billion.

Parliament was forced to adjourn sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday because of the government's absence. Under the constitution, the National Assembly cannot convene without the presence of at least two sitting cabinet ministers.

The government's decision to boycott parliamentary sessions in recent weeks has angered legislators.

"Since the leadership had not accepted the government's resignation, its role as a functioning and continuing government was still ongoing and therefore they have actually abandoned their duties to the constitution by not attending the sessions," MP Saleh Ashour said.

Political observers initially thought it would be several weeks before the Emir or the Crown Prince accepted the government’s resignation. When the government of former prime minister Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah resigned in April last year, Crown Prince Meshal accepted it after more than a month.

Several analysts in Kuwait have suggested that the Supreme Court rule on the constitutional requirements for parliament to convene.

“What should happen next is that the Supreme Court must provide a new ruling on its interpretation of the constitution that stipulates how the National Assembly convenes,” said Hadi Al Ajmi, a Kuwaiti political analyst.

Mr Al Ajmi suggested that "only a majority number of members of parliament are needed to attend to hold quorum, without the need for the government’s attendance”.