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28 March 2024

Kuwait parliament may be dissolved

Published
By Agencies

 

Kuwait's ruler could dissolve parliament and call an election in the Gulf oil exporter after the government's sudden resignation brought a long-running political crisis to a head, analysts said on Tuesday.


"I think the Emir will dissolve the parliament to end this crisis between government and parliament," said political analyst Ali Al Baghli, a former Kuwaiti oil minister.

"The government was not decisive enough and lacked a clear agenda and MPs focused on popular demands ... There is hope that a new assembly will change things but I am not too optimistic."

The cabinet quit en masse on Monday less than a year after it was sworn in, complaining of a lack of cooperation from a parliament that has grilled ministers over their conduct, leading to several resignations.

The stand-off has paralysed political life and delayed economic reforms.

Kuwait has yet to name an oil minister to replace Badr Al Humaidhi, who resigned days after his appointment in November.

Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah has repeatedly urged deputies and the government to work together for the sake of the country, but to little avail.


Politicians and analysts say Sheikh Sabah has two options. He can either accept the resignation and name the current or a new prime minister to form a new cabinet, or he can dissolve parliament and call a new election within two months.

Islamist lawmaker Dhaifallah Buraimi said the ruler would probably dissolve the assembly since intermittent cabinet reshuffles over the past year had failed to break the deadlock, a view that was also echoed in Kuwait papers on Tuesday. (Reuters)