Amir sends Eid congratulations Sheikh Mishal receives former premiers, appoints new governors -- By B Izzak

KUWAIT: The Amiri Diwan conveyed on Monday the warmest congratulations of HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to citizens and residents in Kuwait on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr, and prayed they would continue to live in love and harmony. The Amiri Diwan, on this occasion, congratulated HH the Amir and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. It also congratulated the Kuwaiti people and all residents in the country and prayed that the occasion would revisit the Arab and Muslim states as they enjoy greater security and peace. HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal also received on Monday former prime ministers — HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, HH Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and HH Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. The reception is part of current consultations for forming a new government. An Amiri decree was also issued on Sunday appointing governors of Farwaniya, Capital, Mubarak Al-Kabeer, Ahmadi and Jahra governorates. The Amiri decree stipulated the appointment with a minister’s degree of Sheikh Adhbi Nasser Al-Adhbi Al-Sabah as Farwaniya Governor, Sheikh Abdullah Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah as Capital Governor, Sheikh Sabah Bader Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah as Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governor, Sheikh Hamad Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah as Ahmadi Governor and Hamad Jassem Mohammad Mheisen Al-Habshi as Jahra Governor. Meanwhile, local media reported on Monday caretaker Prime Minister HH Sheikh Dr Mohammad has turned down an offer to form the new Cabinet, without citing any source. This means that a new prime minister must be appointed. Reports also said former prime minister HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled also declined an offer to form the new Cabinet. HH Sheikh Dr Mohammad was appointed prime minister only about three months ago. He succeeded former prime minister HH Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf. During his short tenure, Sheikh Dr Mohammad proposed to HH the Amir to dissolve the National Assembly, which was followed by holding fresh polls in which Kuwaiti voters voted back a majority of the dissolved Assembly members. Under Kuwaiti law, HH Sheikh Dr Mohammad submitted the resignation of his Cabinet, which was accepted by HH the Amir, who asked him and the Cabinet to continue in a caretaker capacity. HH the Amir has started customary consultations to name a prime minister to form a new Cabinet and over the past two days met two former speakers and five former prime ministers. HH Sheikh Mishal can name a new figure to form the next Cabinet, which must be ready before the Assembly holds its inaugural session on April 17. Former Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem told reporters he has not taken a decision on whether to run for the speaker’s post and will take it in due time. “I have not said that I will not run nor I have said I will run. I will make a decision on the matter in due time,” Ghanem said. Two MPs have already announced they are running for the top position in the new Assembly — former speaker and veteran lawmaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun and MP Fahad Al-Azmi. Ghanem called on new MPs to put aside personal differences and focus on important issues to serve the Kuwaiti people who voted them into parliament. He also said that he will accept any invitation to attend an informal meeting of new MPs only if it comes from a “free and uncontrolled person”. Meanwhile, the public prosecution has ordered the detention of a man suspected of buying votes from two women in favor of a candidate in the fifth constituency. The prosecution said in a statement the suspect confessed to the accusation and investigation is ongoing in the case. This is the second such case of vote buying being investigated by the public prosecution. In the first case, a suspect was detained and an order issued to arrest a second suspect over vote-buying allegations in the third constituency.

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