Meshal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, 83, gave the green light to the new executive. He suspended the assembly (only two precedents in 1976 and 1986) and parts of the Constitution. Behind the decision is the confrontation between the leaders and the “pro-Islamist” opposition. Analysts and activists fear an authoritarian drift, prioritizing issues of “development and national stability.”
Kuwait City () – The green light given by Emir Meshal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, 83, for the birth of the new government, two days after the dissolution of the parliament elected a few weeks earlier, appears to have an escalation of the political and institutional crisis in Kuwait has been avoided for the moment. The executive led by Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed al-Abdullah al-Sabah will assume some powers that until now were the prerogative of the assembly, but the waters remain choppy, the power struggle between ministers and deputies unresolved, and could resurface with strength in the near future. In the last five years, Parliament – last elected in April – has been dissolved four times, but while recourse to early voting is a frequent phenomenon, “suspension” is a rare occurrence and has only been produced twice: in 1976 and 1986.
In making the announcement, Emir Meshal – who came to power last December after the death of his predecessor Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al Jaber – attacked, although without naming them, some officials who were allegedly blocking attempts to appoint the crown prince, position that remains vacant. The new government – the 46th in the history of the Gulf country since 1962 – is chaired by Ahmed, the emir’s nephew, and is made up of 13 ministers, nine of whom retain their positions from the previous one, including Oil, Finance and Foreign Affairs, considered key departments. There are two women.
Several articles of the Constitution are also suspended in order to maintain the “democratic process” [principalmente la votación para la nueva asamblea] potentially paralyzed until 2028, in the only Gulf nation to have a parliament elected by citizens by vote. A measure that may aim to put an end to years of political stagnation and setbacks, with a clear fracture between the leadership and the opposition (close to the radical Islamic faction).
Among the seven articles of the Constitution suspended is one according to which the new Parliament must be elected within two months of the dissolution of the previous one and another according to which laws must be approved by both the assembly and the emir. From this moment on, the highest official of the State has assumed full powers and control of the legislation, as he stressed after the decision: “The recent turmoil on the Kuwaiti political scene has reached such a point that we cannot remain silent, but that we must take all necessary measures for the good of the country and the people,” the emir stressed. “I will not allow,” he added, “in any way that democracy be exploited to destroy the State.”
The outgoing prime minister, Sheikh Mohammad Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah, had refused to continue in office following tensions between the government and the National Assembly, elected by 50 members. The opposition, dominated by Islamists, won again in the last elections in early April, maintaining its control over parliament, which has been in a constant tug-of-war with the government and the ruling family for years. Constant bickering between MPs and the executive has led to persistent gridlock in the oil-rich Gulf state, delaying much-needed reforms. Under normal conditions, the assembly can approve a vote of no confidence against any minister or prime minister with a simple majority and also intervenes in the emir’s election of the crown prince, another element of contention.
Deputies have recently accused the government of corruption, while it has responded by stating that parliamentarians are blocking economic diversification plans. Interviewed by Middle East Eye (Mme), Sean Yom, an expert on Middle East politics at Temple University, points out that the emir has made clear his intention to “prioritize issues of development and national stability.” He adds that he did not hesitate to resort to the “drastic measure” of dissolving the assembly and freezing the vote, “thus differentiating himself from the two previous rulers.” Experts express concern about a possible crackdown on dissent and internal opposition: “This election,” Yom confirms, “could damage Kuwait’s unique tradition of pluralism and liberalism, which is exceptional not only in the Gulf, but in the Arab world in general. And finally he points to the fact that activists and critical voices are “unusually silent”, reflecting fear of a “harsh crackdown on public dissent”, while a part of the country is in favor because they are “tired of the disagreements between the government and parliament”.
The emirate is governed by a constitutional monarchy, with a parliamentary system that is also the oldest in the Gulf; The first parliament was elected in 1963, two years after independence from the United Kingdom, on June 19, 1961. It enjoys enormous powers, such as passing and blocking laws, questioning ministers and presenting motions of no confidence against senior officials. The Majlis al-Umma is composed of 50 members, elected in elections held every four years; He can also dismiss the prime minister or other ministers, confirm the appointment of the crown prince and the emir, whose throne is hereditary. Kuwait has a population of about 4.4 million, mostly foreign workers, who are not granted the right to vote and are unlikely to obtain citizenship.
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