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
how-toVZCZCXRO4090 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 i