Kuwait’s defence and interior ministers tender resignations

The pair objected to recent questioning of Cabinet members

Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al Mansour, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Sheikh Hamad Jaber and Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al Mohammed walk together during a parliament session. AFP
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Kuwait’s defence and interior ministers have submitted their resignations to the prime minister in protest over recent questioning of ministers in parliament, two local newspapers said on Wednesday.

Defence Minister Sheikh Hamad Jaber, who survived a no-confidence vote in parliament last month, told the daily newspaper Al Qabas his decision was driven by “arbitrary” questioning of ministers that has impeded government work.

Opposition MPs have recently filed motions for no-confidence votes against several ministers, including the foreign minister, in whom confidence was renewed in a vote on Wednesday.

Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al Mohammed was thoroughly questioned by lawmakers last Tuesday under accusations of wasting public funds and not protecting Kuwait’s political and security interests.

Lawmakers have not yet asked to question Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Mansour.

The current government was appointed in December – the country’s third in 2021 – to resolve a long-running stand-off with the elected parliament that has hindered state efforts for fiscal reform.

Updated: February 16, 2022, 5:54 PM