Kuwait’s New Emir Accuses Gov’t, Parliament of Conspiring to Harm National Interests

Kuwait’s new emir accepted the cabinet’s resignation, state news agency (KUNA) reported.
Kuwait’s new emir accepted the cabinet’s resignation, state news agency (KUNA) reported.
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Kuwait’s New Emir Accuses Gov’t, Parliament of Conspiring to Harm National Interests

Kuwait’s new emir accepted the cabinet’s resignation, state news agency (KUNA) reported.
Kuwait’s new emir accepted the cabinet’s resignation, state news agency (KUNA) reported.

 

Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah was sworn in on Wednesday as Kuwait’s new emir.

In an address at the ceremony at the National Assembly, he declared: “As a political leadership, we must be close to everyone. We must listen and see and follow up on developments.”

He stressed “the importance of follow-up, responsible oversight, and objective accountability within the framework of the constitution and the law for negligence, dereliction and tampering with the interests of citizens.”

He vowed to preserve national unity and combat “all forms of corruption.”

Sheikh Meshal added: “We have not seen any correction of the course. The legislative and executive authorities have conspired to harm the interests of the country and citizens.”

The Emir said it was “necessary to review our current reality, especially in terms of security, the economy and living conditions.”

Moreover, he declared that Kuwait will maintain its Gulf, regional and international commitments.

Sheikh Meshal succeeded Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, whose death at 86 was announced on Saturday.

The cabinet submitted its resignation to Sheikh Meshal shortly after he was sworn in, state news agency KUNA reported. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the late emir's son, handed the resignation to Sheikh Meshal, it added. 

The cabinet, however, will continue as a caretaker government until a new one is formed.

Rumors have circulated that the caretaker government led by Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf may issue a decree dissolving the National Assembly (Parliament) in the coming days and call for new elections within two months.

Kuwaiti constitutional expert Dr. Mohammed Al-Faili affirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the caretaker government is indeed capable of dissolving the Assembly and calling for elections under the condition of it qualifying as an urgency.

“It should be noted that the caretaker government is a government, but its authority is limited to handling urgent matters,” said Al-Faili.

“If there is an urgent matter justifying the dissolution of the National Assembly, it is permissible for it to issue the decree. However, if there is no urgent matter justifying the dissolution, it is not permissible for it to issue such a decree,” he further explained.

“The designation of what is urgent falls within the jurisdiction of the government issuing the decree and the Emir who approves it,” added Al-Faili.

“It is worth noting that the Constitutional Court has the authority to monitor the designation of what is considered urgent,” he noted.

On his part, Kuwaiti political analyst Dr. Ayed Manaa spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat about the speech delivered by Sheikh Meshal during his constitutional oath-taking, describing the speech as unique.

“Based on my observation of royal speeches on such occasions since the 1960s, I find that, for the first time, this speech stands out for its frankness and strength,” said Manaa.

“Usually, such speeches are characterized by diplomatic language and highlighting consensus; this time, I was surprised by a candid and clear speech.”

According to Manaa, the new Emir stated that he did not violate the directives and orders of his predecessor, despite disagreeing with some of the decisions and measures.

As for Sheikh Meshal’s statement on the government and Assembly conspiring to harm Kuwait’s interests, Manaa considered it “undoubtedly significant and serious because if both the legislative and executive branches agree to harm the country’s interests, it means that the country was in untrustworthy hands on both sides.”

The Emir succeeded in directing severe criticism at both branches of power from within the Assembly’s chambers.



Mediator Qatar Says Israel ‘Did Not Abide’ by Gaza Truce Deal

 Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, meets with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, left, at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Alexander Nemenov/Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, meets with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, left, at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Alexander Nemenov/Pool Photo via AP)
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Mediator Qatar Says Israel ‘Did Not Abide’ by Gaza Truce Deal

 Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, meets with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, left, at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Alexander Nemenov/Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, meets with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, left, at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Alexander Nemenov/Pool Photo via AP)

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said Thursday that Israel had failed to respect January’s ceasefire agreement in Gaza, as he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

“As you know, we reached an agreement months ago, but unfortunately Israel did not abide by this agreement,” said the ruler of Qatar, a key mediator of the deal.

A truce in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Qatar with Egypt and the United States, came into force on January 19, largely halting more than 15 months of fighting triggered by Palestinian fighters’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

The initial phase of the truce ended in early March, with the two sides unable to agree on the next steps. Israel resumed air and ground attacks across the Gaza Strip on March 18 after earlier halting the entry of aid.

Israel said Wednesday that it had converted 30 percent of Gaza into a buffer zone in the widening offensive.

Sheikh Tamim said Qatar would “strive to bridge perspectives in order to reach an agreement that ends the suffering of the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza.”

Putin recognized Qatar’s “serious efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict” and called deaths in the conflict “a tragedy.”

“A long-term settlement can only be achieved on the basis of the UN resolution and first of all connected to the establishment of two states,” he added.

Israel’s renewed assault has so far killed at least 1,691 people in Gaza, the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory reported, bringing the overall toll since the war erupted to 51,065, most of them civilians.

Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.