HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Monday appointed Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah as the new prime minister and asked him to form the new Cabinet. The US-educated Sheikh Ahmad, a veteran member of the Cabinet in the past, replaces HH Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, who reportedly declined an offer to form the next Cabinet after barely three months in his post. HH Sheikh Mohammad resigned after the snap parliamentary polls on April 6, as required by the law.

Sheikh Ahmad, a top banker, was a member of the Kuwaiti Cabinet between 1999 and 2009 during which he became the minister of finance, oil, health, information, planning and communications. In 2021, he was appointed head of the Diwan of the Crown Prince.

PM-designate Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah

Lawmakers welcomed the appointment, saying Sheikh Ahmad’s position on raising wages and improving the standard of living of Kuwaitis, in addition to other reforms, are the parameters for cooperation with his government. They said cooperation with the next government is linked to the selection of qualified ministers and joining hands with the National Assembly to approve legislation to improve the standard of living of Kuwaiti citizens and completing political and legislative reforms.

Lawmakers said the new premier is before a new delicate era which requires the selection of a highly qualified team for the Cabinet, which should be able to resolve problems facing the people, including raising wages of citizens and commitment to the Kuwaiti constitution. They cautioned the new government should not use the issue of raising the standard of living of citizens as a bargaining chip for other issues, adding lawmakers will cooperate with the new government if it achieves the demands of the people to raise salaries, resolve unemployment and control price hikes.

Meanwhile, government spokesman Amer Al-Ajmi denied on Monday claims by MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri that the government has decided to hike the price of petrol by 25 percent from June 1. “The government has not made any decision regarding raising the price of fuel, but it was decided to postpone discussions. The issue is still under consideration by the ministerial committee for economic affairs,” Ajmi said in a brief statement.

Kuwait Times