New Kuwait CP & PM

Kuwait emir names brother as crown prince
Tue Feb 7, 2006 5:19 PM GMT

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwait's new Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah on
Tuesday appointed his brother Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah as the new
crown prince and heir of the U.S.-allied Gulf Arab oil producer, state
media said.

Dag T. Hoelseth...

[...]

According to the constitution of Kuwait, Art. 4, third paragraph, the
Parliament needs to approve the nomination, but I suppose this is only a
formality now.

"(3) His designation shall be effected by an Amiri Order upon the nomination
of the Amir and the approval of the National Assembly which shall be
signified by a majarity [sic!] vote of its members in a special sitting."

State news agency KUNA and state television said Sheikh Sabah also
appointed a nephew, Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah, a
minister in charge of the emiri diwan (royal court), as the new prime
minister.

The latest move effectively does away with a long-held political
tradition that the position of the emir and other top posts should
rotate between the family's two wings. Sheikh Sabah, Sheikh Nawaf and
Sheikh Nasser are all members of the Jaber clan of the Sabah dynasty.

cj.buyers...

Looks to me like we have actually witnessed a coup.

Frank R.A.J. Maloney...

And I wondered whether the senior members of the Salem branch agreed to
these new appointments.

Joseph McMillan