Kuwait City:

Kuwait’s emir on Saturday named a new crown prince, Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah, state media reported, just six months after taking over the throne and weeks after suspending parliament.

The 71-year-old sheikh was the Gulf state’s foreign minister from 2011 to 2019 and then prime minister until 2022.

Kuwait entered new political turbulence in May when the 83-year-old emir, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, dissolved parliament just six weeks after elections. He also suspended some provisions of the constitution.

He then named the second government since he took over as head of state in December.

Unlike other Gulf states, Kuwait has an influential parliament while most power remains with the royal family.

While lawmakers have powers their regular battles with the government causes repeat crises.

Kuwait has about seven percent of global oil reserves and one of the world’s biggest sovereign wealth funds. But it has struggled in recent years to diversify its economy away from reliance on oil.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A file photo of Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah.
| Photo Credit: REUTERS

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah issued a decree nominating Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah as crown prince, the state news agency KUNA reported on Saturday, June 1, 2024.

“The Emiri decree comes into effect as of its issuance date and will be published in the Official Gazette,” KUNA added.

Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid previously served as Prime Minister from 2019 until 2022, when he resigned after facing a combative legislature as the head of successive cabinets, with opposition MPs bent on questioning him over issues including perceived corruption.

Kuwait has given its elected assembly more influence than similar bodies in other Gulf monarchies, including the power to pass and block laws, question ministers and submit no-confidence motions against senior government officials.

Before becoming a prime minister in 2019, Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid served as foreign minister for about eight years from 2011. He had also held many ministerial portfolios since 2006.

He was born in Kuwait in 1953 and holds a B.A. in Political Science from Kuwait University in 1977.