KUWAIT CITY, Dec 17 (Reuters): Kuwait's late emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was laid to rest on Sunday at a private funeral attended by select relatives, a day after he passed away.
Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, 83, who has been Kuwait's de facto ruler since 2021, when the frail emir handed over most of his duties, was named as Sheikh Nawaf's successor.
Under Kuwait's constitution, the crown prince automatically becomes emir but assumes power only after taking an oath in parliament. The new emir has up to a year to name an heir.
Analysts and diplomats say that Sheikh Nawaf and his crown prince Sheikh Meshal both appeared to align Kuwait more closely with regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia.
The new emir's choice of crown prince and premier - who would be tasked with managing the government's often stormy relationship with parliament - will be watched closely as a younger generation of Kuwait's ruling family jostles for position.
Such factional struggles within the Al Sabah family have often played out in parliament as contenders for succession build their own political capital and domestic base.
Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad named as successor of Kuwait’s emir
FE Team | Published: December 17, 2023 21:37:41
Sheikh Meshal
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