Saudi ex-intelligence chief named as second-in-line to throne

Second Deputy Premier Prince Muqrin Bin Abdulaziz was on Thursday appointed deputy crown prince. In a royal decree, Custodian of the Holy Mosques King Abdullah said Prince Muqrin will continue to hold the post of second deputy premier.

“Prince Muqrin will receive oath of allegiance as crown prince in case the position becomes vacant, and as king in case the positions of king and crown prince become vacant,” the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) cited the decree as saying. 

King Abdullah said the Allegiance Commission approved Prince Muqrin’s appointment with an overwhelming majority. In future, the king can appoint a deputy crown prince after proposing his name and getting a nod from majority of members of the commission, the Royal Court statement said. 

Prince Muqrin  was named second deputy premier on Feb. 1, 2013. Born in 1945 in Riyadh, Prince Muqrin got his higher education in Royal Air Force College Cranwell, United Kingdom.

During 1965-80, he was appointed assistant to air operations manager and head of plans and operations division in the Royal Saudi Air Force. In 1977, he became emir of Hail region.

He was moved to Madinah as its emir in 1980, a post he held till 1999. During 1999-2005, Prince Muqrin acted as chairman of General Intelligence and then was appointed Adviser and Special Envoy of King Abdullah, the posts he continues to hold.