Kuwait names ruler’s son as defence minister in ministry shakeup

Kuwait announced new ministers on Sunday, with five of the 16 cabinet members coming the royal family.

1 min read

10 December, 2017

Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al Sabah announced his selections Sunday [Getty]

Kuwait has announced new picks for the country's cabinet, with five of the 16 ministers hailing from the royal family, including the ruler's son who was hosen to head the defence ministry.

Nasser Sabah al-Sabah, in his 50s, will serve as defence minister and as deputy prime minister.

He takes over the ministry from Mohammad Khaled al-Sabah.

Bakheet al-Rasheedi, the CEO of Kuwait Petroleum International, a subsidiary of the national Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, was chosen as oil minister, replacing Essam al-Marzouq.

Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak al-Sabah announced his selections Sunday with Kuwait's ruler Sheikh Sabah expected to approve the nominations.

The cabinet was dissolved in October after lawmakers were set to consider a no-confidence against one of the ministers from the ruling family over budget issues.

Under Kuwait's political system, the prime minister has always been a senior member of the ruling family appointed by the emir regardless of the outcome of an election.

The emirate is widely viewed as a pioneer in operating a parliamentary system among the Gulf monarchies, despite recent setbacks in political freedoms.