Emiri decree accepts Kuwaiti government's resignation

The decree asks the government to stay on in a caretaker capacity

Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah speaking during a parliament session in March. EPA

Kuwait has issued an Emiri decree accepting the resignation of the government on Tuesday, more than a month after it was submitted, according to an official statement.

The decree, published by state news agency Kuna, asks the government to stay on in a caretaker role.

Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al Sabah issued the decree, according to Kuna. Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf issued a decree last November commissioning the crown prince with key constitutional powers, including the power to accept or reject a government resignation.

Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al Sabah handed his cabinet’s resignation to the country’s crown prince on April 5, months after his government struggled amid political feuds in the country's national assembly.

Sheikh Sabah has formed a government three times in a little more than a year - in December 2020, March 2021 and December 2021 - and resigned twice in January 2021 and in November 2021.

The prime minister was expected to face a vote of non co-operation on April 6 after members of parliament filed a motion following a grilling session. Sheikh Sabah faced several allegations including "unconstitutional practices and a lack of co-operation with the legislative authority".

Kuwait MPs attending a parliamentary session at the National Assembly in Kuwait City in March. AFP

To overcome the non co-operation motion against him, the prime minister needed a vote of 25 deputies (half of the parliament's members) against the motion submitted by the 10 MPs. He, along with his cabinet, resigned the previous day before parliament could hold the vote.

Opposition MPs in Kuwait have filed several no-confidence motions against ministers of Sheikh Sabah’s cabinet, including the foreign and defence ministers.

Kuwait's National Assembly enjoys legislative power and politicians have been known to challenge the government and royals.

The country has been shaken by disputes between elected politicians and successive governments dominated by the ruling Al Sabah family for more than a decade, with parliaments and cabinets dissolved several times.