Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUWAIT1175
2008-12-01 15:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
AMIR ACCEPTS CABINET RESIGNATION
how-toVZCZCXRO3118 PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHKU #1175 3361506 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 011506Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2433 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001175
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP, NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KU
SUBJECT: AMIR ACCEPTS CABINET RESIGNATION
REF: KUWAIT 1166
Classified By: Political Counselor Pete O'Donohue for reasons 1.4 b and
d
Summary
--------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001175
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP, NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KU
SUBJECT: AMIR ACCEPTS CABINET RESIGNATION
REF: KUWAIT 1166
Classified By: Political Counselor Pete O'Donohue for reasons 1.4 b and
d
Summary
--------------
1. (C) After nearly a week of political uncertainty over a
potential dissolution of parliament, the Amir on December 1
instead accepted the resignation of Kuwait's Cabinet, which
had been tendered after the ministers' dramatic walkout from
a November 25 parliamentary session (reftel). The
announcement was made shortly after Speaker Al-Khorafi
adjourned an emergency meeting of MPs. PM Shaykh Nasser Al
Sabah is expected to retain his position, at least for now.
A Cabinet reshuffle is expected in coming weeks. End Summary.
Parliamentary Dissolution on Hold?
--------------
2. (C) By accepting the Cabinet's resignations, the
dissolution of parliament, which many believed was imminent,
may now be on indefinite hold. Confounding the skeptics,
Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi told the press last week that Amir
Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al Sabah had no intention of dissolving
the Parliament; and in a show of support for his beleaguered
PM, the Amir reportedly remarked last week that PM Shaykh
Nasser Al Sabah was in direct line of succession to become
Amir (after Shaykh Sabah and Crown Prince Shaykh Nawaf). The
Amir's statement signaled that he would not tolerate attempts
by the MPs to grill the PM.
Comment: The Way Forward
--------------
3. (C) The next step in this saga will likely be a Cabinet
reshuffle. Based on the Amir's continued support of the PM,
Embassy interlocutors expect Shaykh Nasser to remain in
position, perhaps with a mandate from the Amir to rebuild his
Cabinet with ministers who are more "heavy-handed." Recent
Cabinets were designed to conciliate Parliamentary factions
or reflect tribal allegiances and "keep MPs in line." These
strategies have proven ineffective. Accordingly, some
insiders expect the new Cabinet to have new faces -- not
necessarily technocrats, but individuals with the will and
ability to push back against bellicose parliamentarians.
Most observers regard the PM himself as the weakest link,
however, and predictions of future progress -- with him
remaining at the helm -- remain bleak. Appointment of a new
Cabinet is not likely before early December's Eid Al-Adha
holidays, but could be delayed for some time. The Amir is
not constitutionally bound to name a new cabinet according to
a particular timetable, and may wish to avoid having the
issue become a distraction as the Kuwait-hosted Arab Economic
Summit scheduled for mid-January approaches. End comment.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
JONES
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP, NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KU
SUBJECT: AMIR ACCEPTS CABINET RESIGNATION
REF: KUWAIT 1166
Classified By: Political Counselor Pete O'Donohue for reasons 1.4 b and
d
Summary
--------------
1. (C) After nearly a week of political uncertainty over a
potential dissolution of parliament, the Amir on December 1
instead accepted the resignation of Kuwait's Cabinet, which
had been tendered after the ministers' dramatic walkout from
a November 25 parliamentary session (reftel). The
announcement was made shortly after Speaker Al-Khorafi
adjourned an emergency meeting of MPs. PM Shaykh Nasser Al
Sabah is expected to retain his position, at least for now.
A Cabinet reshuffle is expected in coming weeks. End Summary.
Parliamentary Dissolution on Hold?
--------------
2. (C) By accepting the Cabinet's resignations, the
dissolution of parliament, which many believed was imminent,
may now be on indefinite hold. Confounding the skeptics,
Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi told the press last week that Amir
Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al Sabah had no intention of dissolving
the Parliament; and in a show of support for his beleaguered
PM, the Amir reportedly remarked last week that PM Shaykh
Nasser Al Sabah was in direct line of succession to become
Amir (after Shaykh Sabah and Crown Prince Shaykh Nawaf). The
Amir's statement signaled that he would not tolerate attempts
by the MPs to grill the PM.
Comment: The Way Forward
--------------
3. (C) The next step in this saga will likely be a Cabinet
reshuffle. Based on the Amir's continued support of the PM,
Embassy interlocutors expect Shaykh Nasser to remain in
position, perhaps with a mandate from the Amir to rebuild his
Cabinet with ministers who are more "heavy-handed." Recent
Cabinets were designed to conciliate Parliamentary factions
or reflect tribal allegiances and "keep MPs in line." These
strategies have proven ineffective. Accordingly, some
insiders expect the new Cabinet to have new faces -- not
necessarily technocrats, but individuals with the will and
ability to push back against bellicose parliamentarians.
Most observers regard the PM himself as the weakest link,
however, and predictions of future progress -- with him
remaining at the helm -- remain bleak. Appointment of a new
Cabinet is not likely before early December's Eid Al-Adha
holidays, but could be delayed for some time. The Amir is
not constitutionally bound to name a new cabinet according to
a particular timetable, and may wish to avoid having the
issue become a distraction as the Kuwait-hosted Arab Economic
Summit scheduled for mid-January approaches. End comment.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
JONES