Published: Mon. August 1, 2022 at 4:29 PM
Kuwait reappointed Oil Minister Mohammed Al Fares and Finance Minister Abdul Wahab Al Rasheed to a cabinet formed on Monday under a new prime minister, largely resembling the interim government that resigned in April.
Last week, the crown prince of the Gulf Arab OPEC appointed Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah as minister to update Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid, who had faced a combative parliament in a dispute between the government and the elected meeting that has hampered tax reform.
Now that it has been formed, parliament is expected to hold a consultation to approve the state budget.
The government would also oversee parliamentary elections called through Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmed Al Sabah, who said last month he would dissolve parliament in a move welcomed by opposition lawmakers pushing for a new prime minister.
Sheikh Meshal late last year took over most of the purposes of the country’s ruling emir.
The new 12-member cabinet includes an unmarried woman, Rana Al Fares, who has been appointed Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Telecommunications and Information Technology Affairs.
The defense minister is also acting interior minister, a position previously held by the new prime minister Sheikh Ahmad, son of the current emir.
The previous government resigned before a no-cooperation vote in parliament against Sheikh Sabah, who had been prime minister since late 2019.
Kuwait, an OPEC member, bans political parties but has given its legislature more leverage than bodies in other Gulf monarchies, adding the force to pass and block laws, consult ministers and table votes of no confidence against senior government officials.
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