Kuwait Crown Prince calls on new government to 'eliminate corruption'

Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah called on the country’s new government to work to achieve security and eliminate corruption.

Al-Sabah said that the government – which is the third government formed in the country in the past eight months - must deal with "essential issues and numerous files that require utmost attention".

Kuwait announced its new government on Sunday, amid a deep political crisis between parliament and the executive which has lasted for the past three years.

The crown prince received on Monday Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and other government members at Bayan Palace, in order for them to perform their constitutional oath after their appointment.

Activists have expressed concern following the new announcement, slamming previous governments for not using their time wisely to break the political deadlock.

This week Kuwait 🇰🇼 got its seventh government in just three years. These failures steal valuable time that should be spent securing the country's future. History will not be kind to those who had the capacity to do the 'right thing' but chose not to.

— Ali Al-Salim (@alialsalim) April 10, 2023

"This week Kuwait got its seventh government in just three years. These failures steal valuable time that should be spent securing the country's future. History will not be kind to those who had the capacity to do the 'right thing' but chose not to," Ali Al-Salim wrote.

Others have called for a solution to the political crisis that offers "reassurance".

The ongoing political crisis in Kuwait is a cause for concern. We are facing a deadlock as the government and parliament struggle to find common ground, leaving citizens in a state of uncertainty. We need to find a solution that gives us reassurance . #PoliticalCrisis #Kuwait

— أ. أمينة الوهيب (@aminahalw) April 9, 2023

"The ongoing political crisis in Kuwait is a cause for concern. We are facing a deadlock as the government and parliament struggle to find common ground, leaving citizens in a state of uncertainty. We need to find a solution that gives us reassurance," Amina Al-Wahib said.

Some don’t believe that a new government will help the situation.

A new government in #kuwait not any different from the previous ones.. it’s unlikely that anything will change since the cause of the troubles are still un-tackled.

— حمد البعيجان الكبير (@hamadalbaijan) April 10, 2023

"A new government in #kuwait not any different from the previous ones.. it’s unlikely that anything will change since the cause of the troubles are still un-tackled," activist Hamad Al-Baijan wrote.

Despite being the only Gulf Arab state to have an elected parliament, Kuwait remains mired in political turmoil that has stalled reforms in one of the world's largest producers of crude oil.

The previous government resigned in January, just three months after first taking office.

Kuwait adopted a parliamentary system in 1962, but repeated political crises have caused state paralysis.

The lack of stability in the emirate has scared off investors and dashed hopes of reform in a wealthy country struggling to diversify in similar ways to Gulf powerhouse Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.