Kuwait's emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, has accepted the resignation of the prime minister and his cabinet, asking them to continue important duties until a new cabinet is sworn in, Kuwaiti media has reported.
According to Kuwait’s official state news agency, KUNA, Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah tendered his resignation to the ruling emir earlier on Monday.
Marzouq al-Ghanim, speaker of Kuwait’s National Assembly, said that he would not be calling for parliamentary meetings until a new government was formed.
The government’s resignation was expected amid reports that several lawmakers were preparing to grill ministers over allegations of irregularities and mismanagement.
English-language daily Kuwait Times said in a report that lawmakers were preparing this week to discuss a no-confidence vote in Information Minister Sheikh Mohammed al-Sabah after he was questioned over violations of budgetary and legislative rules.
The current 50-seat parliament was elected in November and the latest government was formed in February.
The developments come as several opposition lawmakers said that they would be strict in dealing with the government. Tension also built up after the two sides failed to reach a full agreement on several issues, including the reinstatement of revoked citizenships.
In recent years, Kuwaiti authorities have revoked the citizenship of dozens of people based on various allegations, a move widely seen as a campaign targeting political dissent.
Kuwaiti law grants authorities the right to strip a person of citizenship for threatening national security, undermining national unity, being a dual citizen or acquiring a criminal record within 15 years of naturalization.
Kuwait is reportedly investigating several alleged plots to overthrow the ruling system.
The kingdom has the oldest legislature among the Persian Gulf Arab states and experiences frequent cabinet reshuffles.