Ahmad Al-Jassar , Ali Al-Omair and Yaqoub Al-Sanea

KUWAIT: In view of complications over the oil sector crisis, ministers' rejection of solving problems through reshuffles and the grilling motion filed by MP Saadoun Hammad against the resigning Minister of Electricity and Water, Ministry of Public Works Ahmad Al-Jassar, it seems that a partial reshuffle would be the only solution the government can adapt to avoid the complications imposed by reshuffle solutions.

However, a reshuffle is becoming harder and more complicated now after oil minister Dr Ali Al-Omair was supposed to be appointed as Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, while the oil ministry's portfolio would be handed over to either the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh, or Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah. But it seems that things have changed now since Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah was excluded from assuming the oil ministry's portfolio in order to avoid conflict of interests, while Omair was excluded from the Awqaf minister by a political decision.

These developments opened wide for objections from the Islamic Salafi Assembly since it had insisted on appointing its representative, Omair, as Awqaf minister in place of current minister Yaqoub Al-Sane so that it continues to be represented in the cabinet. Things even got worse after MP Saadoun Hammad filed a grilling motion against the resigning Ahmad Al-Jassar, as Omair was reportedly supposed to take his place at the public works' ministry.

In view of such complications, it seems that a partial reshuffle would be the most convenient option, especially since the idea was suggested and approved by lawmakers during the parliamentary break. Partial reshuffle would also be a good chance to assess ministers' performance after two years in position. It would also give a chance for 'new blood' to join the cabinet as well as grant certain members a safe and proper way out.

Notably, Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem had stressed that the grilling motion filed by Hammad against Jassar was constitutional and that the government would, thus, have three options; to accept Jassar's resignation and thus remove the grilling motion from the parliament's agenda, to have Jassar suspend his vacation and go back to office by the December 1st session so that he could take the podium and respond to the grilling motion or to ask for postponing discussing the grilling motion for a certain period, which would require NA's approval according to article 135 of the parliament's regulations chart. - Al-Jarida