Kuwaiti Emir offers to nominate Deputy Guard Chief as new Crown Prince: Minister

Kuwaiti Emir Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah has issued a decree that recommends nominating the candidacy of Deputy National Guard Commander Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as the country's new Crown Prince, Minister of Royal Court Affairs Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah said on Wednesday.

Kuwaiti Emir Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah has issued a decree that recommends nominating the candidacy of Deputy National Guard Commander Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as the country's new Crown Prince, Minister of Royal Court Affairs Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah said on Wednesday.

"The Al Sabah ruling family has blessed the recommendation of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah to appoint Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as the Crown Prince," the minister said, as cited by the state-run KUNA news agency.

The decree will be sent to Kuwait's parliament -- the National Assembly -- during the day to pledge allegiance to the heir to the throne on Thursday.

On Tuesday, KUNA reported that Kuwait's government, chaired by Prime Minister Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah, had submitted its resignation to the country's ruler ahead of the general election campaign, which is expected to be held in late November. However, later in the day, the emir issued an order to dissolve parliament on October 8.

The speaker of the National Assembly, Marzouq al Ghm, in turn, said live on Kuwait state TV that if the emir decided on the crown prince's candidacy on Wednesday, parliament should be ready to vote on the matter the following day.

Under Kuwait's legislature, the ruler can submit for consideration by the National Assembly the name of the successor within a year, and if parliament rejects a candidate, the emir should offer three more names of potential heirs to the throne.

Al Sabah was sworn in as the new Qatari ruler on September 30 after the death of Emir Sabah IV, who had led the country since 2006. (/Sputnik)

( With inputs from ANI )