Kuwait’s ruler hands some duties to crown prince – decree

DUBAI (Reuters) -Kuwait’s crown prince has been asked to carry out some of Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmed al-Sabah’s constitutional duties on a temporary basis, state news agency KUNA said on Monday, citing an Emiri decree.

Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, also in his 80s, is half brother of the emir and his designated successor, appointed when Sheikh Nawaf assumed power just over a year ago.

KUNA gave no further details, including on the health of the emir, who looked frail in his last public appearance in late October when he briefly addressed parliament. In July, he underwent medical check-ups.

Sheikh Nawaf, 84, became ruler of the OPEC oil producer and U.S. ally after the death in September 2020 of his brother, who had ruled for more than a decade. Under Kuwait’s constitution, the crown prince automatically becomes emir.

On Sunday, Sheikh Nawaf accepted the government’s resignation as part of efforts to end a standoff with opposition lawmakers who had insisted on questioning the prime minister despite a March motion granting him temporary immunity.

The emir has yet to name a premier to form a new cabinet, which would be the country’s third this year at a time when it is pursuing fiscal reform and trying to bolster finances hit hard last year by low oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic.

In another move to advance domestic political detente, the emir issued an amnesty sought by opposition lawmakers pardoning political dissidents, including former MPs in self-exile abroad.

(Reporting by Nadine Awadalla; Writing by Maher Chmaytelli, Lisa Barrington and Ghaida Ghantous;, Editing by Alex Richardson, William Maclean)