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Kuwait’s Crown Prince Dissolves Parliament, Calls Elections

Lawmakers attend a session of Kuwait's National Assembly, in Kuwait City, Feb. 8, 2022. (AP)
Lawmakers attend a session of Kuwait's National Assembly, in Kuwait City, Feb. 8, 2022. (AP)
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Kuwait’s Crown Prince Dissolves Parliament, Calls Elections

Lawmakers attend a session of Kuwait's National Assembly, in Kuwait City, Feb. 8, 2022. (AP)
Lawmakers attend a session of Kuwait's National Assembly, in Kuwait City, Feb. 8, 2022. (AP)

Kuwait's crown prince on Wednesday dissolved National Assembly and called for early elections, a move to ease government gridlock that has paralyzed the tiny country for months.

In his televised national address, Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah said that while the ruling family respected Kuwait's constitution, popular dissatisfaction over the deepening dysfunction compelled the emir to intervene.

The domestic political scene was being "torn by disagreement and personal interests" to the detriment of the country, he added.

"Our goal with this constitutional solution is the firm and sincere desire for the people themselves to have the final say in the process of correcting the political course anew by choosing who represents the right choice," said Sheikh Meshal, who assumed most of the emir's responsibilities last year.

A date for legislative elections was not immediately announced.

The country's Cabinet resigned over two months ago over disputes with Parliament, resulting in a prolonged paralysis.

The wrangling has left many Kuwaitis deeply disenchanted with their 50-member elected legislature. Parliament is empowered to pass and block laws, question ministers and submit no-confidence votes against senior officials. However, final authority rests with the ruling emir.

Kuwait’s emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, appeared briefly on state TV on Wednesday to say he authorized his heir to give the national address, effectively blessing the step.

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Qatar Will Send Natural Gas to Syria to Increase Its Meager Electricity Supply 

People break their fast during an event organized by a charity organization in Qaboun neighborhood of Damascus, Syria, 04 March 2025. (EPA)
People break their fast during an event organized by a charity organization in Qaboun neighborhood of Damascus, Syria, 04 March 2025. (EPA)
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Qatar Will Send Natural Gas to Syria to Increase Its Meager Electricity Supply 

People break their fast during an event organized by a charity organization in Qaboun neighborhood of Damascus, Syria, 04 March 2025. (EPA)
People break their fast during an event organized by a charity organization in Qaboun neighborhood of Damascus, Syria, 04 March 2025. (EPA)

Qatar will provide natural gas supplies to Syria with the aim of generating 400 megawatts of electricity a day, in a measure to help address the war-battered country’s severe electricity shortages, Syrian state-run news agency SANA reported Friday.

Syria’s interim Minister of Electricity Omar Shaqrouq said the Qatari supplies are expected to increase the daily state-provided electricity supply from two to four hours per day.

Under the deal, Qatar will send 2 million cubic meters of natural gas a day to the Deir Ali power station, south of Damascus, via a pipeline passing through Jordan.

Qatar’s state-run news agency said that the initiative was part of an agreement between the Qatar Fund for Development and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Jordan in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program and “aims to address the country’s severe shortage in electricity production and enhance its infrastructure.”

Syria’s economy and infrastructure, including electricity production, has been devastated by nearly 14 years of civil war and crushing Western sanctions imposed on the government of former President Bashar al-Assad.

Those who can afford it rely on solar power and private generators to make up for the meager state power supply, while others remain most of the day without power.

Since Assad was ousted in a lightning opposition offensive in December, the country’s new rulers have struggled to consolidate control over territory that was divided into de facto mini-states during the war and to begin the process of reconstruction.

The United Nations in 2017 estimated that it would cost at least $250 billion to rebuild Syria, while experts say that number could reach at least $400 billion.

The United States remains circumspect about the interim government and current President Ahmad al-Sharaa, the former leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group. Washington designates HTS as a terrorist organization and has been reluctant to lift sanctions.

In January, however, the US eased some restrictions, issuing a six-month general license that authorizes certain transactions with the Syrian government, including some energy sales and incidental transactions.