Kuwait government resigns, state news agency reports

Speaker of Kuwait’s National Assembly said he will not be calling for parliamentary meetings until a new government is formed

Kuwaiti prime minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al Sabah speaks during the opening ceremony of the National Assembly's new legislative term in Kuwait City on October 24, 2017. Noufal Ibrahim / EPA

Kuwaiti prime minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al Sabah offered on Monday the resignation of his government to Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, who accepted the resignation, the state-run Kuwait News Agency (Kuna) reported.

Speaker of Kuwait’s National Assembly Marzouq Al Ghanim said that he will not be calling for parliamentary meetings until a new government is formed.

The government “formally submitted its resignation and it was accepted by the [office of the] emir”, he told reporters on Monday.

Ministers, including premier Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al Sabah, who has headed the government since 2011, will serve in a caretaker government until a new cabinet is appointed, Kuna said.

Mr Al Ghanim had said on Thursday there was a high chance the government was resigning on Monday amid efforts by opposition MPs to go after allegations of mismanagement.

Lawmakers were preparing to deliberate on a no-confidence vote in information minister Sheikh Mohammed Al Sabah, who was questioned over violations of budgetary and legislative rules, Kuwait Times said in a report. Sheikh Mohammed Al Sabah has denied the allegations.

Kuwait has the oldest legislature among the Gulf Arab states and experiences frequent cabinet reshuffles. The latest government was formed in February after snap polls in which the opposition won almost half of the 50-seat house.