(MENAFN- Arab Times) HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Thursday approved the new Cabinet formed by HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah two weeks after his reappointment.
The new Cabinet consists of 14 members as follows: First Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Humoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense Sheikh Ahmad Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Anas Khalid Al-Saleh, Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs Jamal Ahmad Al-Shihab, Minister of Communications and acting Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Salem Mutheeb Al-Utheina, Minister of Planning and Development and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Dr Rola Abdullah Dashti, Minister of Health Dr Ali Saad Al-Obeidi, Minister of Electricity and Water and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Abdulaziz Abdulatif Al-Ibrahim, Minister of Public Works Dr Fadhel Safar Ali Safar, Minister of Information and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Minister of Finance, Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf, and Minister of Oil and acting Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Hani Abdulaziz Hussein.
According to the Amiri decree, the Prime Minister must inform the Parliament about the formation of the new government and work with it from the date of the publication of the decree in the official gazette.
It can be recalled that the previous government faced a number of grilling motions, which led to the resignation of former Finance Minister Mustafa Al-Shamali after deliberations on the interpellation request submitted by MPs Musallam Al-Barrak, Abdulrahman Al-Anjari and Khalid Al-Tahous. Former Minister of Social Affairs and Labor also resigned days before the session slated for discussions on two grilling motions presented against him by MPs Saifi Mubarak Al-Saifi and Riyadh Al-Adsani. The Parliament did not debate on the grilling request submitted by MP Mohammed Al-Juwaihel against Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Humoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah due to its dissolution.
Commenting on the formation of the new government, MP Musallam Al-Barrak asked the new government to immediately dissolve the 2009 Parliament, warning against the swearing in of the new ministers before this legislature. He also stressed the need for the government to ensure free and fair elections.
Al-Barrak threatened to overthrow the Prime Minister like his predecessor if he agrees to amend the electoral constituency system. He said if the system is amended the government will play with MPs like dolls and violate the Constitution. He urged the people of Kuwait to raise doubts on the procedures taken to nullify the 2012 National Assembly. He alleged the ruling family does not believe in democracy and Article Six of the Constitution, which states that the people are the source of all powers. He asserted the Family Council deals only with family affairs, not the amendment of the electoral constituency system.
On the other hand, Mohammad Al-Dallal, a member of the annulled Parliament, said the minimal changes in the new government indicate it will stay only for a short period to supervise the elections. He added the most unusual change is the removal of Jamal Shihab from the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs - a portfolio given to Hani Hussein in an acting capacity in addition to the Oil Minister post. He called on the new government to speed up procedures for the dissolution of the 2009 Parliament and to hold elections under the five-constituency electoral system.
Agencies add:
Kuwait has not experienced the kind of mass popular uprisings that have swept the Arab region since last year, but tensions have grown between the cabinet and opposition lawmakers pushing for a say in government.
The country has seen eight governments come and go in just six years due to bickering between the parliament and cabinet, hindering economic reforms.
During their four months in parliament, opposition lawmakers emboldened by their success at the polls repeatedly sought to question cabinet members, forcing the resignation of two, including the finance minister.
Pro-government MPs have been demanding the reinstated assembly, which the emir dissolved in December last year following months of infighting with the government, be allowed to finish its term, while opponents have threatened to block any attempt to convene it.
Kuwait is home to one of the region's most outspoken parliaments with legislative powers and a tradition of lively debate but the ruling al-Sabah family still maintains a firm grip on state affairs.
Key cabinet posts are held by ruling family members and the 83-year-old emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, has the right to dissolve or suspend parliament at will.
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