The Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Sunday accepted Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah's Cabinet's resignation. "The resignation of the prime minister and the ministers is accepted and they are tasked with proceeding in a caretaking manner addressing urgent affairs pending formation of a new Cabinet," the Emiri decree stated in part, shortly after the premier tendered his Cabinet's resignation to the Emir. The Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled, earlier, had tendered resignation of his government to Emir Sheikh Nawaf at the Bayan Palace. Addressing the Emir, the prime minister noted that he was appointed as head of the government on Nov. 19, 2019, adding that and decree tasked him with formation of the government during "this crucial period of our beloved homeland's history." The prime minister noted that he and the ministers had done their utmost to shoulder the responsibilities accorded to them for serving Kuwait and attain prosperity. "I have keenly supervised the general elections of the new National Assembly to hold the polls freely, transparently and with utmost objectivity despite the very strict precautions warranted by the novel coronavirus," Sheikh Sabah Khaled noted. "By Allah's testimony, we have been keen on performing the accorded tasks with utmost sincerity and faithfulness," Sheikh Sabah Khaled affirmed. "So you may accept it (resignations) and take what you may deem appropriate with your well known wisdom as I express admiration to Your Highness for your support." The Emir issued a decree on Sunday calling on the (newly elected) National Assembly to hold the first regular session of the 16th legislative term on Dec. 15. The Emiri Decree stipulated that it was issued in accordance with the Constitution, and that the National Assembly is called upon to hold the first regular session of the 16th legislative term in the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Accordingly, the prime minister will notify the National Assembly about this decree that will be published by the official gazette. Kuwaitis voted in legislative polls on Saturday, with the Gulf State's worst economic crisis in decades posing a challenge for the government's often stormy relationship with a parliament blamed for blocking reforms. Kuwaiti voters replaced more than half of the sitting parliament, with the incoming legislature having 31 new members, including 22 who have never served in parliament, according to Bloomberg. None of the 28 women candidates were elected, including the only female member of the outgoing chamber. Tribal members made strong gains while opposition candidates also won more seats. Liberals fared poorly and many leading pro-government legislators failed to retain their seats. Some 568,000 Kuwaitis, just under half of the citizen population, were eligible to choose from 326 candidates, and the parliamentary turnover rate was similar to 2016. Pollsters reported a high turnout in the Gulf State. — Agencies
