Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUWAIT317
2007-03-04 13:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAIT CABINET RESIGNS UNDER PRESSURE FROM
how-toVZCZCXRO4483 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHKU #0317 0631331 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 041331Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8440 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000317
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NSC FOR RAMCHAND, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS
FOR WALLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FREEDOM AGENDA
SUBJECT: KUWAIT CABINET RESIGNS UNDER PRESSURE FROM
PARLIAMENT
REF: A. KUWAIT 292
B. KUWAIT 258
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reason 1.4 (d)
Sensitive But Unclassified; not for Internet distribution.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000317
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NSC FOR RAMCHAND, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS
FOR WALLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FREEDOM AGENDA
SUBJECT: KUWAIT CABINET RESIGNS UNDER PRESSURE FROM
PARLIAMENT
REF: A. KUWAIT 292
B. KUWAIT 258
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reason 1.4 (d)
Sensitive But Unclassified; not for Internet distribution.
1. (SBU) Kuwait's Cabinet resigned en masse March 4 on the
eve of a scheduled parliamentary vote of no confidence on
Health Minister Shaykh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Sabah. The Cabinet,
the 23rd since Kuwait gained independence in 1961, lasted
only eight months. The Amir will now begin the customary
consultation period before appointing a new Prime Minister,
which most expect to remain Shaykh Nasser Mohammed Al-Sabah,
the Amir's nephew. Once appointed, there is no time limit on
the Prime Minister to form a new Cabinet, unless specified by
Amiri decree; however, normally this process takes less than
two weeks. Parliament will automatically recess until the
new Government is formed. In the meantime, the previous
Cabinet will serve as the "caretaker Government."
2. (C) Comment: The resignations represent a victory for
opposition parliamentarians, particularly Islamists, whose
questioning of the Health Minister on February 19
precipitated the Government collapse (ref B). They will also
likely quiet for now talk of an Amiri dissolution of
Parliament. However, an emboldened opposition is equally
likely to quickly resume its attacks on government corruption
and mismanagement, closing in on red lines known at this
point only to the Amir. End comment.
3. (U) Proposed press guidance (if asked): The resignation
of the Kuwaiti cabinet represents a Kuwaiti constitutional
process whereby the Amir is authorized to change or reappoint
government ministers.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
LeBaron
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NSC FOR RAMCHAND, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS
FOR WALLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FREEDOM AGENDA
SUBJECT: KUWAIT CABINET RESIGNS UNDER PRESSURE FROM
PARLIAMENT
REF: A. KUWAIT 292
B. KUWAIT 258
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reason 1.4 (d)
Sensitive But Unclassified; not for Internet distribution.
1. (SBU) Kuwait's Cabinet resigned en masse March 4 on the
eve of a scheduled parliamentary vote of no confidence on
Health Minister Shaykh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Sabah. The Cabinet,
the 23rd since Kuwait gained independence in 1961, lasted
only eight months. The Amir will now begin the customary
consultation period before appointing a new Prime Minister,
which most expect to remain Shaykh Nasser Mohammed Al-Sabah,
the Amir's nephew. Once appointed, there is no time limit on
the Prime Minister to form a new Cabinet, unless specified by
Amiri decree; however, normally this process takes less than
two weeks. Parliament will automatically recess until the
new Government is formed. In the meantime, the previous
Cabinet will serve as the "caretaker Government."
2. (C) Comment: The resignations represent a victory for
opposition parliamentarians, particularly Islamists, whose
questioning of the Health Minister on February 19
precipitated the Government collapse (ref B). They will also
likely quiet for now talk of an Amiri dissolution of
Parliament. However, an emboldened opposition is equally
likely to quickly resume its attacks on government corruption
and mismanagement, closing in on red lines known at this
point only to the Amir. End comment.
3. (U) Proposed press guidance (if asked): The resignation
of the Kuwaiti cabinet represents a Kuwaiti constitutional
process whereby the Amir is authorized to change or reappoint
government ministers.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
LeBaron