The son of Kuwait’s emir has been named the country’s prime minister. Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who took over most of the emir’s duties late last year on Sunday issued a decree naming Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf al-Sabah as prime minister and charging him with forming a new cabinet. Last month the crown prince said he would dissolve parliament and order early elections.
The new prime minister, Sheikh Ahmad, served as deputy prime minister and interior minister in the outgoing government, which resigned en masse in April over disputes with parliament. He began his career in the police force.
Kuwait’s constitution gives parliament more power than in other Arab Gulf states; the National Assembly is empowered to pass and block laws, question ministers and submit no-confidence votes against senior officials. Final authority, however, rests with the emir.