Kuwait Has Parliamentary Chosen Emir!

[Annie]

You do know that England had this problem, a long time ago? Who wants to argue that Iraq and Afghanistan aren't making a difference in the ME?:

http://austinbay.net/blog/?p=864

1/29/2006
The New Ruler In Kuwait–And Evolving New Rules

With fits, starts, and occasional successes, Kuwait experiments with democratic reform. It remains, however, an emirate — a “princedom.” With Iraq and Palestine dominating the Middle East (or at least the news focus on the Middle East), Kuwait’s succession crisis has trundled on, largely unnoticed. But believe US, Arab, and western diplomats were paying attention. Oil is the big reason, geographic proximity another. During the Iran-Iraq War Iran frequently targeted Kuwaiti off-shore oil facilities. Kuwait remains a staunch US ally.

The AP reports on the selection of a new emir (via ABC News). Yes, al-Sabah family politics still plays a role in the selection, but note the action of the Kuwaiti legislature. If it looks like Parliament challenging The King–well, it is, albeit in nascent form.

Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah was sworn in as the new emir of Kuwait on Sunday, ending an unprecedented leadership crisis in the oil-rich U.S. ally that saw the legislature vote to oust the former leader.

Earlier Sunday, parliament voted unanimously to name Sheik Sabah the new leader the first time in Kuwait’s history that the legislature played a role in choosing the emir, a matter that had been the business of the ruling family for hundreds of years.

Here’s what the new emir told the legislature:

“We will adhere to the interests of the public and avoid sectarian and tribal considerations in every respect so that Kuwait will be the lone winner,” he said before an audience that included 700 dignitaries and ambassadors.​

There are some dramatic, theatrical, and perhaps ex post facto elements to the story.

On January 24 the parliament voted to remove the former (and ailing) emir, Saad Al Abdullah Al Sabah, from power. The vote came (quoting from the AP):

…after hearing medical testimony that he was incapacitated. The legislature transferred his powers to the Cabinet, which met hours later and named Sheik Sabah the next emir. That vote was sanctioned by the 1964 succession law and the 1962 constitution…Moments after voting to remove him, the parliament received an abdication letter from Sheik Saad. The ruling family had announced it had worked out the succession dispute, but it was too late to get the letter of resignation to the legislature before the unprecedented vote to remove the emir.

This short Khaleej Times article has some interesting quotes. The BBC looks at the parliamentary vote.

Worth noting in the BBC report:

Legislators voted 64-0 on Sunday morning to appoint Sheikh Sabah, who is in his mid-70s and served as foreign minister for 40 years.

Analysts say he is a reformist minded statesman who has pushed ahead with enfranchising women and economic liberalisation.

The confirmation brings to an end a succession struggle within the ruling al-Sabah family following the death of Emir Jaber al-Ahmad in January.

A BBC correspondent in the Gulf says Kuwaitis watched in amazement as members of the ruling al-Sabah family quarrelled about the succession.