Kuwait's government sworn in amid stand-off with ministers

Tensions remain high as outspoken opposition MP Badr Al Dhahoum is removed from office

Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid attends a special parliament session at the National Assembly headquarters in Kuwait City on February 16, 2021. AFP

Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid and the country's council of ministers took the oath of office on Tuesday, amid ongoing tension between the leader and elected assembly.

Dozens of politicians gathered outside the National Assembly in a sign of the lingering discord that peaked in December culminating in the resignation of the Cabinet.

This came after a majority of MPs backed a motion to question the prime minister on various issues, including his choice of ministers.

Parliament's first session after a month-long suspension ordered by the Emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad, is also due to discuss an amnesty bill pardoning people charged with storming the parliament in 2011.

The MPs who were protesting outside the assembly agreed to enter the session after the government completed taking the oath.

National Assembly speaker Marzouq Al Ghanim announced in the house that opposition MP Badr Al Dhahoum had been sacked.

His membership of the assembly was nullified by the country's constitutional court on March 14, adding to the simmering tension with elected officials, after he was charged with "insulting the Emir".

Mr Al Dhahoum, who was among the protesters, was one of two members of parliament who this month filed a new request to question the prime minister.

The court revoked Mr Al Dhahoum's membership in line with a law introduced in 2016 that bars anyone convicted of insulting the Emir from taking part in parliamentary elections.

The stand-off in parliament is the new Emir's first big political challenge as the country moves to shore up its finances.

On Monday, he voiced hope that the session "sees fruitful cooperation ... far away from any tension".