Al-Sabah family studies appointing a crown prince
Kuwait, Politics, 1/19/2006

Sides from the Kuwaiti rulling al-Sabah family started close door internal consultations on Wednesday in order to arrange the transfer of the rule in Kuwait in light of the deteriorated health condition of the new ruler of the country Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Salem al-Sabah.

News reports quoted sources close to the Kuwaiti royal family as saying that prominent figures in the family held talks during the first three days of eulogy and condolences on the demise of the late Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah ( 79 years old) after 28 years of ruling Kuwait.

The same sources said that vaster consultations were held on Wednesday with the participation of the prime minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah in order to choose the crown prince, noting that Sheikh Sabah (76 years old) who runs the affairs of the country is the most likely candidate.

Constitutionally, the new prince (75 years old) is the only one who has the right to appoint the crown prince, however, this matter is practically made through consultations among members of al-Sabah family and the Kuwaiti Ummah council ( parliament) has to ratify the appointment of the new crown prince.

The ruling family has also to take into account preserving the balance between the two wings of the family (al-Jaber and al-Salem branch) who assume the rotating presidency and sharing it since 85 years.

Also the ruling family has to decide whether the two posts of the crown prince and the prime minister should be split or kept them together in the capacity of one person, as was the case until 2003,when the two posts were split for the first time.

Previous Stories:
  Sheikh Jaber eulogized, Saad al-Abdullah new ruler of Kuwait   (1/16/2006)
  Kuwaiti crown prince to stay in office; political parties   (11/28/2005)
  Kuwaiti parliamentarians demand the ruler solve succession crisis   (11/17/2005)

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