Kuwait's National Assembly (Parliament) Speaker Jasem Al-Kharafi Monday confirmed to KUNA that he received a request from the cabinet to hold a session Tuesday on the health condition of the Amir Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and whether to resort to article three of the law of succession. The speaker told KUNA "Yes, I have received the request last night."
The request stated "Out of the cabinet's practicing its constitutional jurisdiction and in accordance with the constitution, it is the cabinet's conclusion that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah is no longer fit, health-wise, to carry out his constitutional duties."
The cabinet demanded the matter be "put to the National Assembly in a special closed-door session in line with the concerned articles of the Law of Succession to call for a session at 10 a.m. on January 24th."
The third article of the Law of Succession states that "In order for the Amir to assume his powers under the constitution, he must fulfill all conditions required for the position of Crown Prince."
It adds that "If the Amir fails to meet any of these conditions, or is incapable of carrying out his powers for health reasons, the Cabinet - after establishing this - must put the issue before the National Assembly so as to be considered in a special closed session."
On Sunday, Al-Kharafi received a request by the Amir Sheikh Saad to take oath of office in a closed session Tuesday evening. The Speaker on Monday said the fate of the oath-taking session will be determined by the morning session requested by the cabinet. Asked about the possibility of canceling the evening session if some "arrangements" are reached at the morning session, Al-Kharafi said, "this is a big possibility, as the morning session is linked to the evening session."
