US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4372

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 004372 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PINR, KU, SUCCESSION 
SUBJECT: AMIR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN KUWAITI PM AFTER 
LEADING FAMILY CRITIC CALLS FOR TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE TO 
"ASSIST THE LEADERSHIP" 
 
REF: KUWAIT 4264 (AND PREVIOUS) 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  National Guard Chief Shaykh Salem Al-Ali 
created the sensation of the early Ramadan season by 
suggesting publicly that a three-party ruling family 
committee be formed "to assist" Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah. 
Faced with this high level sniping, Shaykh Sabah was the 
recipient of a vote of confidence Monday night by the Amir, 
(reportedly sound of mind if not body), and rumors abound 
that the PM will soon be made Crown Prince.  Feuding between 
the Salem and Jaber branches of the ruling family is nothing 
new, but it only rarely pops up in the press, usually with 
Shaykh Salem Al-Ali as the spokesman for the dissenters. 
Although the rumor mill is full of speculation that the PM 
could be granted the Crown Prince title soon, once the dust 
settles on this current incident, we are more likely to see 
continued muddling through.  (End Summary) 
 
Shaykh Salem Calls for Tripartite Committee 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
2.  (SBU) In an October 10 interview with Arabic-language 
daily Al-Qabas, National Guard Chief and fourth 
highest-ranking ruling family member Shaykh Salem Al-Ali 
Al-Salem Al-Sabah called for the formation of a three-member 
ruling family committee to "assist the leadership" of the 
Amir and the Crown Prince, both of whom have serious health 
issues.  Shaykh Salem suggested the committee include 
himself, Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber 
Al-Sabah, and nephew of the Amir Shaykh Mubarak Abdullah 
Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who does not currently hold a 
government post. 
 
3.  (SBU) Shaykh Salem said in the interview, "The present 
situation is wrong and we should not remain silent.  From my 
position in the ruling family, I must draw attention to this 
serious constitutional flaw in which procedures outlined by 
the constitution and law are not being observed.  Legislation 
must pass through proper constitutional channels."  He also 
criticized Minister for Amiri Diwan Affairs Shaykh Nasser 
Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for "carrying out 
functions not within his prerogatives."  "It is incorrect and 
illogical that he should take decisions unilaterally," he 
added.  "The responsibility (is) on the elders, who should 
not leave things as they are and leave the ship to be led by 
the corrupt and yes-men," Shaykh Salem concluded.  (Note: 
Such public criticism of top Government officials, 
particularly from a leading royal family member, is extremely 
rare in Kuwait, where the ruling family prefers to keep its 
disputes behind closed doors.  However, Shaykh Salem al-Ali 
has taken to the press before and is the public voice of 
chronic problems between the Salem and Jaber branches of the 
Al-Sabah family.  End note.) 
 
Amir: "Complete Trust in Prime Minister 
--------------------------------------- 
 
4.  (C) The Government reacted quickly to Shaykh Salem's 
statements.  Under headlines of "Amir Backs Shaykh Sabah," 
English-language dailies reported October 11 that the Amir 
summoned National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi to a 
meeting October 10 during which the Amir re-affirmed his 
"complete trust" in the Prime Minister, who also attended the 
meeting along with Shaykh Nasser and Deputy Chief of the 
National Guard and brother to the Amir Shaykh Mishal Al-Ahmed 
Al-Jaber Al-Sabah; Shaykh Salem was noticeably absent. 
According to press reports, the Amir told Al-Khorafi he would 
"take a decisive measure that would serve Kuwait's interests, 
security, and stability," a statement some observers suggest 
could indicate an imminent change in one of the government's 
top leaders.  We have also heard from sources close to Shaykh 
Sabah that the Amir privately reassured Shaykh Sabah of his 
backing. 
 
5.  (C) Press also reported that Al-Khorafi called National 
Assembly members (MPs) to an emergency meeting October 11. 
Al-Khorafi's Office Director Waleed Razzaq told Poloff 35-38 
MPs attended the emergency meeting, which lasted 30-45 
minutes.  The purpose of the "consultative meeting" was to 
convey the Amir's support for the Prime Minister to the MPs, 
Razzaq said.  (Note:  Per Article 8 of the Succession Law, if 
the Crown Prince "loses the health ability to exercise his 
powers," the Amir should refer the matter to the National 
Assembly, which must verify the Amir's assessment and vote to 
remove and replace the Crown Prince "in a special closed-door 
session."  End note.) 
 
6.  (C) Comment: The divisions revealed by Shaykh Salem's 
comments are linked to historic rivalries within the ruling 
family.  Uncertainties created by the lingering ill-health of 
both the Amir and Crown Prince have fueled internecine 
rivalries.  Many contacts have noted that the relative 
decline of the Salem branch, represented by the Crown Prince, 
has led to fears that the Amir and Prime Minister's Jabir 
branch of the ruling family is monopolizing positions of 
power.  The Amir's response to Shaykh Salem's statements may 
indicate he is prepared to replace the ailing Crown Prince 
with Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah, re-uniting the offices of 
Crown Prince and Prime Minister, which were separated in 
2002.  Some of our contacts believe such a shift will come as 
soon as Shaykh Salem returns from a long stay in the UK. 
However, we have heard such rumors before, and after the dust 
settles on the recent public exchanges, there will be less 
motivation to take difficult steps.  End comment. 
 
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