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Kuwait emir ouster sparks calls for power-sharing

Posted on: Thursday, 26 January 2006, 07:52 CST

By Haitham Haddadin

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwait's parliamentary ouster of its ailing ruler has sparked calls for reforms in the oil-producing country to prevent a chaotic transition of power, allow parties and appoint a premier from outside the ruling al-Sabah family.

Lawmakers hailed this week's assembly vote, which ended a succession crisis in the major oil producer, as a triumph for the rule of law in a region dominated by autocratic governments.

But they said the new emir must now put in place a political system that would ensure a smooth transition of power in the future and appoint a prime minister who is not from al-Sabah family, which has ruled the country for more than two centuries.

"Kuwait shouldn't stop sailing toward a brighter future," columnist Bashar al-Sayegh wrote in Al-Seyassah daily.

"This requires the government to take the actual steps to complete the political and economic reform process," he added, saying political forces want "more freedoms and a civic society of equality and justice."

Parliament on Tuesday voted out emir Sheikh Saad al-Abdulla al-Sabah on health grounds, resolving a power dispute within the ruling family that had gripped the country since he took over after his cousin's death on January 15.

Cabinet then named prime minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, Kuwait's de facto ruler for years, as the new emir.

The elected assembly -- the first in the Gulf region -- has a long history of challenging the government, which is dominated by the ruling family. But parliament's executive powers are limited and the al-Sabahs occupy key government posts.

POWER-SHARING

Sheikh Sabah's appointment as emir, which is expected to be confirmed by parliament on Sunday, will formalize a role he has played in the past four years due to the illness of both the late emir, Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah, and his heir.

His appointment broke with a tradition in the Sabah family of alternating leadership between its two rival clans. The late emir, and Sheikh Sabah, are from the Jaber branch while the deposed Sheikh Saad is from the Salem branch.

Although parliament intervened decisively to put an end to what was shaping up as a chaotic transition, the jostle for power, within the ruling family and between parliament and Kuwait's rulers, still lies below the surface.

Analysts expect Sheikh Sabah, whose branch of the family dominate top cabinet posts, to appoint a Salem as crown prince to appease the family. They say a likely contender is Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad al-Salem al-Sabah.

Opposition newspaper al-Taleea said in an editorial there was a pressing need to enact more reforms, including the appointment of a non-Sabah as prime minister. The paper also said the government must adhere to a 2003 decree that separated the posts of crown prince and prime minister.

Kuwait has some political groups but does not allow political parties. Parliament has asked for legalizing parties.

Sheikh Sabah, 77, has overseen a reform drive which gained momentum after the 1991 U.S.-led war that freed Kuwait from a seven-month Iraqi occupation.

His government pushed through parliament a decree granting women the vote in 2005 and he has also opened up the economy.

As emir, he will have even more authority to push for deeper economic and political reforms, analysts said.

"The implication is more democracy and more maturity for Kuwait's political system," said analyst Shafeeq Ghabra.

"That means moving on a lot of issues the country needs such as economic and political growth, the ability to reform the electoral districts and deepen the democratic process."

Source: REUTERS

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