Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT2775
2006-07-10 13:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

FAMILIAR FACES IN KUWAIT'S NEW CABINET; TWO

Tags:  PGOV PREL KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 
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VZCZCXRO4090
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKU #2775/01 1911319
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 101319Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5697
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002775 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NSC FOR RAMCHAND, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS
FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
SUBJECT: FAMILIAR FACES IN KUWAIT'S NEW CABINET; TWO
INFLUENTIAL MINISTERS ACCUSED OF CORRUPTION EXCLUDED

REF: A. KUWAIT 2602

B. KUWAIT 2193

C. KUWAIT 1832

D. KUWAIT 1642

Classified By: CDA Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002775

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NSC FOR RAMCHAND, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS
FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
SUBJECT: FAMILIAR FACES IN KUWAIT'S NEW CABINET; TWO
INFLUENTIAL MINISTERS ACCUSED OF CORRUPTION EXCLUDED

REF: A. KUWAIT 2602

B. KUWAIT 2193

C. KUWAIT 1832

D. KUWAIT 1642

Classified By: CDA Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C/NF) Amir Shaykh Sabah approved July 10 the new Cabinet
proposed by Prime Minister Shaykh Nasser Mohammed Al-Sabah.
As is customary, the previous Cabinet resigned July 1 after
the parliamentary elections (ref A). The new 16-member
Cabinet, the 23rd since Kuwait gained independence in 1962,
includes six members of the Al-Sabah family, three Islamists,
two Shi'a, and one woman. The Cabinet will hold its first
meeting on July 11 and is expected to be ceremonially sworn
in during the first session of Parliament on June 12. The
most significant change was the exclusion of former Minister
of Energy Shaykh Ahmed Al-Fahd Al-Sabah and former Minister
of State for Cabinet/National Assembly Affairs Mohammed
Sharar. During the recent elections, both Ministers were
sharply criticized for corruption and for blocking passage of
an electoral reform proposal, and pro-reform MPs had
threatened to "boycott" the Government if either was
re-appointed. To some extent, their exclusion is a real
victory for reformers and signals that the Government is
seeking to avoid confrontation with the reformist bloc in the
National Assembly, possibly even adopting elements of the
anti-corruption, pro-electoral reform agenda.


2. (C/NF) On the other hand, Shaykh Ahmed Al-Fahd's
exclusion is unlikely to affect his overall power and
influence. It is rumored that he will be appointed as head
of the National Security Bureau to replace Shaykh Sabah
Al-Khaled, who was appointed Minister of Social Affairs and
Labor. Due to his close connection to the Amir and his
prominent position within the ruling family, Shaykh Ahmed
Al-Fahd is likely to retain much of his influence and may
work to split the fragile liberal-Islamist bloc at the heart
of the pro-reform alliance in Parliament. Dr. Bader
Al-Nashi, the Secretary General of the Islamic Constitutional

Movement (ICM),the political arm of the Kuwaiti Muslim
Brotherhood, told Poloff that Shaykh Ahmed Al-Fahd "does the
Amir's dirty work" and "could be more powerful outside the
Government than within it." He also speculated that Shaykh
Ahmed Al-Fahd's exclusion was only temporary and predicted
that he would be re-appointed to a ministerial position in "a
couple of years."


3. (C/NF) There were few other major changes in the new
Cabinet: one other Minister was replaced and several
portfolios were switched. In addition, the Ministry of
Planning was reportedly merged with the Higher Planning
Council to create the new Public Authority for Planning,
which is expected to be headed by Dr. Mohammed Al-Rumaihi, a
liberal academic. It is somewhat surprising that Shaykh
Jaber Al-Mubarak retained the portfolios of both Interior and
Defense, since it was widely assumed these would be separated
again. The re-appointment of the controversial Mohammed
Al-Sanousi as Minister of Information will likely draw strong
criticism from pro-reform MPs who accused him of trying to
close down several new independent satellite channels
covering the elections (ref B). Despite the appointment of a
rookie, pro-reform Member of Parliament (MP),Falah
Al-Hajiri, as Minister of Commerce and Industry, the
pro-reform bloc in Parliament is still likely to retain its
majority with at least 33 seats. (Note: The Prime Minister
is constitutionally required to appoint at least one MP as a
Minister. The 16-member Cabinet votes as a bloc. End note.)

Details of New Cabinet
--------------


4. (C/NF) The Cabinet is as follows:

- Prime Minister: Shaykh Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah (no change)

- First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, and
Minister of Defense: Shaykh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad
Al-Sabah (no change)

- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah (no change)

- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet
Affairs: Dr. Ismail Khudhur Al-Shatti (Note: In the previous
Cabinet, Al-Shatti was Minister of Communications. He was a
senior member of the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM),

KUWAIT 00002775 002 OF 002


the political arm of the Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood, but was
expelled in May after refusing to resign in protest over the
Government's position on electoral reform (ref C). His
elevation to Deputy Prime Minister may reflect the Amir's
appreciation of his support. End note.)

- Minister of Energy: Shaykh Ali Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah (Note:
In the previous Cabinet, Shaykh Ali was Minister of Social
Affairs and Labor. He has considerable experience in the
private sector, particularly in finance. End note.)

- Minister of Health: Shaykh Ahmed Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmed
Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (no change)

- Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs: Abdul
Hadi Al-Saleh (Note: Al-Saleh is one of two Shi'a Ministers.
This portfolio was previously combined with the Cabinet
Affairs portfolio and both were held by the alledgedly
corrupt Muhammad Sharar. End note.)

- Minister of Communications: Dr. Ma'souma Al-Mubarak
(Note: In the previous Cabinet, Dr. Ma'souma was Minister of
Planning and Minister of State for Administrative
Development. She is one of two Shi'a Ministers, but remains
the only woman in the Cabinet. End note.)

- Minister of Information: Mohammed Al-Sanousi (Note:
Al-Sanousi was appointed to replace Dr. Anas Al-Reshaid who
resigned in May in protest over the Government's position on
electoral reform (ref D). Although he is a liberal, he was
heavily criticized by pro-reform candidates and activists for
attempting to block several new satellite channels' coverage
of the recent elections (ref B). End note.)

- Minister of Finance: Bader Mishari Al-Humaidhi (no change)

- Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Housing
Affairs: Bader Nasser Al-Humaidi (no change)

- Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education:
Dr. Adel Taleb Al-Tabtabaei (no change)

- Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic
Affairs: Dr. Abdullah Abdul-Rahman Al-Ma'touq (no change)

- Minister of State for Municipality Affairs: Abdullah Saud
Al-Muhailbi (no change)

- Minister of Social Affairs and Labor: Shaykh Sabah
Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah (Note: Shaykh Sabah Al-Khaled was
previously the head of the National Security Bureau,
Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and a Kuwaiti diplomat to the
United Nations. End note.)

- Minister of Commerce and Industry: Falah Al-Hajiri (Note:
Al-Hajiri is an independent Islamist and was elected to
Parliament for the first time on June 29. He is the only MP
in the Cabinet. End note.)


5. (U) Updated biographic information will soon be
available on post's classified website.

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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s

Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************* *
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