The Emir of Kuwait has dissolved the National Assembly once again and assumed some government duties, just six weeks after elections in the wealthy Gulf state, which has seen repeated and ongoing political crises.

The Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reports that “an order was issued by the Emir to dissolve the National Assembly and suspend some articles of the constitution for a period not exceeding four years.” KUNA also reports that Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the council of ministers were “assuming the powers granted to the National Assembly.”

Reasons for the dissolution of the National Assembly

The head of state claimed that his move was in response to “interference” by certain members of the National Assembly with the Emir’s powers, and the attempt by others to impose “conditions” on the formation of a government. “We have faced difficulties and obstacles that cannot be tolerated,” he said in a speech broadcast on state television. He accused some lawmakers of “going so far as to interfere with the essence of the Emir’s authority and his choice of Crown Prince, forgetting that this is a direct constitutional right of the Emir.”

The current National Assembly, elected in early April, was supposed to meet for the first time in May. However, a number of members of the Assembly refused to participate in the government. Under Kuwait’s constitution, at least one lawmaker needs to be appointed as a cabinet minister until the makeup of the government is finalized. But the Prime Minister-designate has been unable to persuade any lawmakers to participate in the government. Sheikh Meshal said that the failure to form a government was the result of “dictates and conditions set by certain lawmakers.” Badr al-Saif, a political analyst at........

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