Kuwait has four Islamist ministers after reshuffle

The Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al –Sabah, has issued a decree accepting the resignation of seven serving ministers in his country’s government after disagreements with the elected parliament. Those replacing them, including new ministers of oil and finance, include an extra two ministers with an Islamist background. The total number of Islamist ministers in the Kuwait government now stands at 4.

According to the Amir’s decree, lawyer Ali Al-Omair will replace ex-Minister of Oil Mustapha Al-Shamali, while former Minister of Trade and Industry Anas Saleh will now hold the Finance portfolio; he replaces the ex-director of the Kuwait Central Bank, Salem Abdul-Aziz Al-Sabah.

The Kuwaiti cabinet was formed in August following early parliamentary elections that were held in July. The Constitutional Court is reported to have rejected two requests last month to invalidate the elections, meaning that the elected parliament has become the first to complete its mandate since 2003.

SOURCE: FJP