Key post for Emirs son in new Kuwait cabinet

Kuwait: Kuwait on Monday announced a new-look cabinet 40 days after the government resigned on October 30.

The new cabinet will take the constitutional oath before the Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad on Tuesday and will hold its first meeting afterwards.

Observers said that the change to the outgoing cabinet was around 60 per cent.

The Prime Minister, Shaikh Jaber Al Mubarak who retained his post which he has held since 2011, presented the formation to the Emir who approved it and issued a decree on its formation, Kuwait News Agency (Kuna) reported.

The cabinet includes a second woman minister after Jinan Mohsin Ramadan was appointed Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Minister of State for Service Affairs.

The other woman, Hind Sabeeh Barrak Al Sabeeh, kept her post as Minister of Social Affairs and Labour and Minister of State for Economic Affairs.

Nine new ministers made their debuts in the government, including Shaikh Nasser Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, who was named First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and Dr Bassel Humoud Hamad Al Sabah appointed Minister of Health.

Eight ministers left the government, including Shaikh Mohammad Al Khalid and Shaikh Mohammad Al Abdullah.

"I renew the pledge to be worthy of the confidence in assuming responsibility at this very delicate stage in the history of our beloved homeland, fully aware of the magnitude of the great challenges, the outstanding issues and the vital problems that necessitate hard and productive work and the willingness to confront difficulties and obstacles that may hinder progress, work and achievement," Shaikh Jaber said as he presented the list of the new cabinet to the Emir.

The outgoing cabinet resigned following a bitter standoff with lawmakers who were calling to subject the minister of information to a vote of confidence.

The new Kuwait cabinet as announced by Kuwait News Agency (Kuna):

• 1 Shaikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
• 2 Shaikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
• 3 Shaikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior
• 4 Anas Khaled Al-Saleh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs
• 5 Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf, Minister of Finance
• 6 Hind Sabeeh Barrak Al-Sabeeh, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, as well as Minister of State for Economic Affairs
• 7 Khaled Nasser Al-Roudhan, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Youth Affairs
• 8 Mohammad Nasser Al-Jabri, Minister of Information
• 9 Dr. Bassel Humoud Hamad Al-Sabah, Minister of Health
• 10 Bakheet Shibeeb Al-Rasheedi, Minister of Oil and Minister of Electricity and Water
• 11 Jinan Mohsin Ramadan, Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Minister of State for Services' Affairs
• 12 Hamid Mohammad Al-Azmi, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education
• 13 Hussam Abdullah Al-Roumi, Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs
• 14 Adel Musaed Al-Kharafi, Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs
• 15 Fahad Mohammad Al-Afasi, Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs