19 January 2006
International
Kuwait's ruling family to decide on succession
- By Omar Hasan
Kuwait City, Jan. 18: Kuwait's ruling Al-Sabah family will discuss on Wednesday arrangements for power transfer amid concerns over the poor health of the new Emir, which have plunged the Emirate into a constitutional controversy.
Talks will focus mainly on the ability of ailing Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Sabah to take the oath and on the naming of a crown prince, who is widely expected to be powerful Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.
Top family members held brief meetings on late Tuesday at the end of the three-day condolence period after the death of Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who had ruled Kuwait for 28 years, sources close to the family said. The family will hold a broader meeting on Wednesday in which Sheikh Sabah and leading family member Sheikh Salem al-Ali al-Sabah will take part, the sources said.
At stake was mainly the selection of a new crown prince after Sheikh Saad, who had held the title since 1978, automatically became Emir.
Sheikh Sabah, 76, the shrewd politician who has been running the day-to-day affairs of the oil-rich Gulf Emirate for several years, is the most likely candidate for the position.
Under the Constitution, the new Emir has the sole authority to name a crown Prince, but in practice the selection is made by the ruling family. He must also be approved by the elected Parliament. The family is also due to discuss other succession arrangements to ensure a balance between its various wings, especially the Al-Jaber and Al-Salem lines that have been alternating the head of state position for 85 years. They will discuss whether the posts of crown Prince and Prime Minister, split for the first time in 2003, should remain separate or be remerged, according to the sources. (AFP)