KUWAIT CITY, April 11: The Kuwaiti Cabinet held Monday its first meeting after issuing the Decree No. 43 of 2023 and swearing in before His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at Bayan Palace. At the onset of the meeting, the Cabinet led by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah lauded the speech of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad on the occasion of taking oath by the government.

His Highness the Crown Prince’s speech included directives in which His Highness Sheikh Mishal stressed Kuwait’s supreme interest, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr. Khaled Al-Fadhel said in a statement following the meeting. “Achieving Kuwait’s comprehensive renaissance is our responsibility; the leadership, the government, the National Assembly and people. All people are partners in building the country and completing its march and progress,” His Highness the Crown Prince said in his speech. His Highness the Crown Prince called on the ministers to take reform steps regarding essential issues and several dossiers of great importance, Al- Fadhel added. His Highness the Crown Prince also called on the Cabinet to work within a team to implement fairly law to all, and achieve security of people and the country as well as upgrade service systems and combat corruption, Al-Fadhel said. The Cabinet highly expressed its appreciation to these directives, stressing its full commitment to them.

Meanwhile, His Highness the Prime Minister opened the first meeting with a speech in which he welcomed the ministers, expressing appreciation to them for accepting to bear responsibility to overcome several challenges facing the dear homeland in this period. The Prime Minister affirmed some rules of the Cabinet’s work like facilitating implementing its decisions and urged all ministers to serve citizens and facilitate their interests. His Highness the Prime Minister thanked former ministers for their sincere efforts they made in achieving their tasks.

For his part, First Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Minister and Acting Defense Minister Sheikh Talal Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah expressed pride and appreciation to His Highness the Prime Minister, stressing making efforts to achieve the country’s goals and interest. Sheikh Talal Khaled vowed to work seriously to meet aspirations of people, and achieve prosperity and further achievements in varied fields. The Cabinet reviewed a letter from Minister of Justice on the Constitutional Court’s ruling issued on 19 March 2023 on annulling the whole National Assembly elections held on 29 September 2022 in the fifth constituencies. The Cabinet discussed the details relating to the ruling and required measures to be taken in this matter.

The Cabinet affirmed its full respect of all judicial rulings and its commitment to implementing them, in line with the constitution. The Cabinet then discussed the Civil Service Commission’s letter on Eid Al-Fitr holiday and decided to suspend work at all ministries, government institutions and bodies on April 21-25. Work will resume on April 26, while agencies with a special nature will determine their Eid holiday by the competent bodies to take into consideration the public interest, according to the Cabinet. (KUNA)