Kuwait Forms 39th Government Within 60 Years

Kuwait witnessed the formation of 39 governments over 60 years, the last of which was the one formed on March second, 2021; headed by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al- Hamad Al-Sabah and included 15 ministers.

The 38th cabinet line-up was put together after His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah tasked Sheikh Sabah Khaled to run it, but it was dissolved on November 18th.

The new government announcement came after an Amiri order assigning Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled as Prime Minister on November 23rd. The following is a chronology of the numerous cabinets throughout Kuwait’s history.

Cabinets during the era of the Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah: The first government, called the transitional cabinet and chaired by the late Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, was formed on January 17, 1962. It consisted of 14 ministers, had a specific mandate for drafting a constitution, thus its tenure ended when this was accomplished on January 27, 1963.

The second government, formed on January 28th, 1963, was chaired by Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and consisted of 15 ministers. It continued until December fifth, 1964.

The third one, set up on December sixth, 1964, was chaired by Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem, consisting of 14 ministers, four of them were MPs. This government survived for 28 days only because it failed to win the confidence of the National Assembly due to constitutional measures regarding the selection of some ministers.

Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem chaired the fourth government that was formed on January 3, 1965, and included 13 ministers. Cabinets during the era of the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah: The fifth government, formed on December fourth, 1965, was chaired by Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. This cabinet grouped 13 ministers including three MPs.

It resigned in the end of the legislative term, February third, 1967. The sixth cabinet, formed on February fourth, 1967, was also chaired by Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah. It consisted of 14 ministers including three MPs, who served for four years until February 1971, at end of the parliamentary legislative term.

The seventh government, which also served a full four-year term, was formed on February second, 1971. Chaired by Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, this cabinet included 13 ministers. Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad formed the following cabinet, the eighth, on February ninth, 1975. The 15-member cabinet. It ended its term a month after the dissolution of the parliament in August 1976.

The ninth government, formed while the parliament was dissolved on September 6, 1976, was chaired by Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and consisted of 18 ministers. Its mandate ended in December 1978 after the passing away of then Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, then Crown Prince and Prime Minister, was named as Amir.

Cabinets during the era of Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah: The tenth government was formed on February 16, 1978. Then Crown Prince Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah chaired the cabinet. It consisted of 18 ministers and served until March third, 1981 when new elections were announced.

The 11th government, formed on March fourth, 1981, was chaired by Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, consisting of 15 ministers including one MP. It served a full four-year term up until March second, 1982, ahead of parliamentary elections. The 12th government was formed on March third, 1985, and was chaired by Sheikh Saad.

The cabinet served for 16 months only due to the deterioration of relations between the executive and legislative authorities that led to parliament’s dissolution in 1986, triggering the government’s resignation on July 11 of this year. The 13th government was formed on the following day and consisted of 21 ministers.

Sheikh Saad formed the 14th government with 22 ministers on June 20th, 1990. This government continued in office despite the August second, 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, and was functioning from the Saudi City of Taef until the liberation in February 1991.The 15th government, the first after liberation, was dubbed the “government of reconstruction.” It was formed on April 20 of 1991 and consisted of 20 ministers. It lasted until October 16, 1992, when new parliamentary elections were held.

The 16th government, formed on October 17th, 1992, was chaired by Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al- Sabah and consisted of 15 ministers including six MPs. The 17th government was formed on October 15th, 1992. Chaired by Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah, the government consisted of 14 ministers including four MPs. The government resigned on March 21, 1998 after a no-confidence motion was tabled against then information minister Sheikh Saud Nasser Al-Sabah.
The following government, the 18th, was formed by Sheikh Saad on March 22nd, 1998. It served for 15 months and resigned on July 12th, 1999, in the wake of an Amiri Decree to dissolve the parliament.

The 19th cabinet, formed on July 13 of 1999, was chaired by Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah. The government resigned on January 2001 after relations with the parliament deteriorated when former MP Hussein Al-Qallaf requested interpellation of Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr. Saad Al-Hashel. However, the cabinet was formed by His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah because Sheikh Saad had to leave the country for treatment. Sheikh Sabah selected 15 ministers including three MPs.

The 21st government was formed on July 14th, 2003, by His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad because the post of Crown Prince was separated from the post of Prime Minister for the first time.

This government served until February eighth, 2006, in the wake of passing away of Amir Sheikh Jaber Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Cabinets during the era of Sheikh Sabah Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah: The 22nd government was formed by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on February ninth, 2006.

This government, which consisted of 15 ministers, lasted for five months only due to parliament’s dissolution that was caused by an interpellation against the Prime Minister over the electoral districts.

His Highness Sheikh Nasser, following the parliamentary elections, formed the 23rd government on July 10th, 2006. Minister of Health Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Sabah was grilled and a no-confidence motion was tabled against him thus triggering the government’s resignation on March fourth, 2007.

The 24th government was formed by His Highness Sheikh Nasser on March 25th, 2007, and resigned on May 19, 2008, in the wake of the dissolution of the National Assembly. His Highness Sheikh Nasser formed the 25th government on May 28, 2008.

However, the extremely tense relations between the legislative and executive authorities caused by an interpellation against the Prime Minister forced the government to resign on November 25 2008. His Highness the Amir accepted the resignation and the government continued as caretaker until January 22nd, 2009.

The 26th government was formed by His Highness Sheikh Nasser on January 23rd of the same year and resigned after four months.

The 27th government was formed by His Highness Sheikh Nasser on May 29th and served for two years. It resigned following the growing number of interpellations.

His Highness Sheikh Nasser was reassigned to form the 28th government that consisted of 15 ministers including one MP. On December 13th, 2001, His

Highness Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah formed his first government, the country’s 29th.

This care-taker government was mandated with organizing elections and its term expired on February 13th, 2012.

His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak formed the 30th government the following day. However, this government was dropped because the Constitutional Court annulled parliamentary elections.

The government resigned on July 18th, 2012. His Highness the Prime Minister formed the 31st government on July 19th, 2012 with 13 ministers. This cabinet lasted for four months due to parliament’s dissolution.

The 32nd government was formed by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber on December 11th, 2012. It served for seven months until the Constitutional Court’s annulled parliamentary elections that took place in the same month. Elections were held on July 27th, 2013.

The 33rd government was formed on August fourth, 2013, and ministers tendered their resignations on November 28th, 2016.

The 34th government was established on December tenth, 2016 headed by His Highness Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, consisting of 15 ministers, including one MP. The 35th government was formed on December 11th, 2017 under the chairmanship of His Highness Sheikh Jaber Mubarak, consisting of 15 ministers, including one MP.

The 36th government was set up on December 17th, 2019. Headed by His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al- Hamad Al-Sabah, it consisted of 15 ministers, including two MPs, along with the return of seven ministers from (2017 government) and the entry of three women in the new ministerial formation.

Cabinets during the era of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah: On December 14th, 2020, the 37th government was formed headed by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al- Khaled and it consisted of 15 minitsters. It resigned on January 18, 2021.

The 38th cabinet was formed on March second, 2021 and was also headed by Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled. It resigned on November 18.

 

SOURCE : TIMESKUWAIT

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