The abdication of Kuwait's emir saved the country's parliament from the delicate task of forcing the issue, reports Doaa El-Bey After less than a week in power, Kuwait's parliament unanimously voted to remove Kuwait's emir, Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, from office due to his poor health. Sheikh Saad had become emir on 15 January. The vote was taken shortly before the house received an abdication letter from Sheikh Saad. The letter spared Kuwait a full-blown succession crisis that may have had a negative impact on the oil-rich emirate. Politicians praised Sheikh Saad, saying he put the national interest of Kuwait before personal interests and ambition. He left his position to Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, another member of the ruling family, who is more able to fulfil the duties of head of state. Sheikh Sabah, who is in his mid-70s, is a shrewd politician who has been the de facto ruler of the emirate for a number of years due to the ill health of both the late Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah and Crown Prince Sheikh Saad. He was the foreign minister for over four decades before becoming prime minister in 2003. If Sheikh Saad had ruled Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah would almost certainly have been appointed crown prince. By law, the emir has up to one year to choose his official successor. Sheikh Sabah has the support of many members of the ruling family as well as the media. He was one of three candidates named by Sheikh Jaber in 1978 as possible crown princes, along with Sheikh Saad and Sheikh Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah. As emir, Sheikh Sabah is expected to leave unchanged Kuwait's current oil policy and pro-Western stance. Kuwait contains approximately 10 per cent of the world's oil reserves. Kuwait's succession problems started when the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah cast doubt on the fitness of Emir Sheikh Saad to rule. A vote was called on his ability to rule before he could take an oath. After receiving the government request, parliament speaker Jassem Al-Kharafi planned to hold a special session Tuesday in which arguments for deposing Sheikh Saad on health grounds would be heard. According to Article 3 of the 1964 succession law, the Kuwaiti cabinet has the right to transfer power from an incapacitated emir to the crown prince if the 65-member parliament, which includes 15 cabinet ministers, approves by two-thirds. Had Sheikh Saad been voted out of power by parliament, it would have been the first time in Kuwaiti history an emir had been removed in such a manner. Sheikh Saad has suffered deteriorating physical health since undergoing colon surgery in 1997. In appearances since coming to power, Sheikh Saad showed almost no expression, did not speak, and was confined to a wheelchair. Some law-makers cast doubt on his ability to read a two-line oath at the swearing-in ceremony. As crown prince from 1978, and the late emir's cousin, Sheikh Saad was automatically named emir after the death earlier this month of Sheikh Jaber, who ruled Kuwait from 1977. He has been ill since suffering a brain haemorrhage five years ago. His cousin Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah, who is considered to be the dean of the family, backed Sheikh Saad. His popularity is due to the role he played in liberating Kuwait in 1991. He is also the son of late Emir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem who is considered by the Kuwaitis as the father of the constitution and democracy introduced in Kuwait in 1962. He ruled from 1950 to 1965. The appointment of Sheikh Saad came in line with the long held tradition of alternating leadership between the two branches of Al-Sabah family; the Salem branch to which Sheikh Saad belongs and the Jaber branch to which Sheikh Jaber and Sheikh Sabah belong. Sheik Saad's abdication saved Kuwait from a constitutional crisis but broke away from the long-held tradition of power sharing by the two family branches. Whether this departure from tradition causes problems in the future only time can tell.
