KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Tuesday held customary talks at Bayan Palace with current and former Assembly speakers and prime ministers over forming a new Cabinet. He received National Assembly Speaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun and former speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem. He also received HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf Al-Sabah, who resigned last week, and former prime ministers HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah.

These are customary consultations held by HH the Amir in accordance with the constitution before naming a prime minister to form a new Cabinet. The outgoing prime minister HH Sheikh Ahmad submitted his resignation on Dec 20, hours after HH Sheikh Mishal took the oath in the National Assembly to assume his powers as the new Amir of Kuwait, succeeding Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who passed away on Dec 16.

HH the Amir will decide whether to reappoint HH Sheikh Ahmad to form the new Cabinet or name a new figure from the ruling family to form the Cabinet. The process may take a few days, but it could take longer.

Meanwhile, five lawmakers on Tuesday submitted a motion calling to form a three-member investigation committee by the Assembly to probe findings of the Audit Bureau on suspected violations at the Health Assurance Hospitals Co (Dhaman), a firm set up a few years ago to provide healthcare for expats in Kuwait.

The company was supposed to start its services several years ago, but suspected corruption and wrongdoings prevented the company from operating its clinics and hospitals, which have been ready for years. The Assembly had asked the state Audit Bureau to probe alleged irregularities at the company and the bureau submitted its report to the Assembly. Now the five lawmakers are calling for a parliamentary probe of the bureau’s findings.