News on Sheikh Sabah as crown prince Kuwait

Sources close to the ruling family in Kuwait on Thursday said that there is a near consensus in the family that Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah will assume the post of the crown prince. However, there are still differences over his keeping the post of a prime minister.

The ruling family held a series of meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday following the mourning for the late ruler of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah and naming Sheikh Saad al-Abdul Allah Sabah as a new ruler, in order to arrange the internal house.

The sources said that sides of the ruling family discussed issues including appointing the crown prince and the prime minister. However, the sources added the ruling family sides could not settle these issues. They also discussed measures that should be taken to make the balance between the two branches of the ruling family, al-Salem and al-Jaber branches who assume rotating presidency of the country.

The sources indicated that the ruling family, did not specify a date for future consultations, but expected to have more meetings, noting that there is a near consensus that Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad will assume the post of the crown prince, but there are differences over keeping the presidency of the government.

The sources said that during the meeting of the family on Wednesday a proposal was discussed on appointing Sheikh Sabah in the post of the ruler, with appointing the crown prince from al-Salem wing of the family. However, the idea was rejected.