KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Sunday former National Assembly speakers Ahmad Al-Saadoun and Marzouq Al-Ghanem as part of consultations ahead of forming a new Cabinet. HH the Amir earlier on Sunday accepted the resignation of the government, which quit in accordance with the law after the parliamentary elections.

An Amiri decree asked HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and other ministers to continue as a caretaker government until a new Cabinet is formed. Under Kuwaiti law, the government must resign after parliamentary polls.

HH the Amir can name a new prime minister or ask HH Sheikh Mohammad to form the new Cabinet. He will also meet all former prime ministers. There are two former speakers and five former premiers. HH the Amir also issued a decree announcing the new parliament will hold its inaugural session on April 17.

Former veteran speaker Saadoun and MP Fahad Al-Azmi have officially announced they are running for the post of speaker of the Assembly as a proposed informal meeting for new lawmakers was postponed to April 14. Saadoun announced his candidacy on his account on X platform while Azmi made a brief statement expressing his determination to continue in the race.

The 16 Cabinet ministers are allowed to vote for the speaker like elected MPs and their vote could be crucial. Former speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem has not yet decided to enter the race. After winning a seat in the Assembly, Ghanem said he will study the situation before making his decision.

Meanwhile, new MP Bader Al-Dahoum, who called for the meeting to coordinate between MPs, said Saturday night that due to the unavailability of many lawmakers, the meeting will now take place after the Eid holidays on April 14. Dahoum added the meeting will not discuss the issue of posts in the Assembly and the election of committees, but will focus on studying priority issues to be debated in the coming weeks.

Regarding the deputy speaker’s post, a number of lawmakers have already announced they will contest the post. They include former deputy speaker Mohammad Al-Mutair, MP Mubarak Al-Tasha and the only female MP in the house Jenan Bushehri. Bushehri said she is running for the post with the intention to work to boost cooperation between the Assembly and authorities. If elected, she will be the first woman to occupy the post.

The public prosecution has said that it is investigating a case of vote-buying for a candidate in the third constituency. In a statement on the X platform, the prosecution said that it has detained one suspect and ordered the arrest of another. It said it seized cash, a laptop and a mobile containing the names of voters in the constituency.