Kuwait's Defence Minister Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al Ali, left, listens to Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al Mohammad Al Sabah at the National Assembly in Kuwait City on January 18. AFP
Kuwait's Defence Minister Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al Ali, left, listens to Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al Mohammad Al Sabah at the National Assembly in Kuwait City on January 18. AFP
Kuwait's Defence Minister Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al Ali, left, listens to Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al Mohammad Al Sabah at the National Assembly in Kuwait City on January 18. AFP
Kuwait's Defence Minister Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al Ali, left, listens to Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al Mohammad Al Sabah at the National Assembly in Kuwait City on January 18. AFP

Kuwait defence minister survives vote of no confidence


Ismaeel Naar
  • English
  • Arabic

Kuwait's Defence Minister Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al Ali Al Sabah survived a vote of no confidence in parliament on Wednesday over a number of decisions, including one to allow women to serve in combat roles.

After discussing the motion against the minister, 23 members of parliament voted against the motion, while 18 voted in favour.

Four members of parliament – two for and two against – spoke on Wednesday on the motion that was brought against Sheikh Hamad last week.

Representatives Shuaib Al Muwaziri and Hamdan Al Azmi spoke as supporters of the request for a vote of no confidence, while Dr Abdullah Al Tariji and Dr Khaled Al Enezi spoke against the motion.

Mr Al Muwaizri said there was "clear and open corruption" and the questioning of Sheikh Hamad last week was not personal.

“The minister’s management is bad and the continuation of this negative performance is unacceptable,” Mr Al Muwaizri told parliament.

Kuwait’s government has also referred two senior military officers for prosecution in a major corruption case related to the purchase of Eurofighter Typhoon combat planes.

Kuwait Ministry of Interior's Captain Rashed Al Mulla, left, gives a walkie talkie to 1st Lt AL Najjar, right, after a briefing at his office in South Surra, Kuwait, on September 2, 2010. Gustavo Ferrari / The National
Kuwait Ministry of Interior's Captain Rashed Al Mulla, left, gives a walkie talkie to 1st Lt AL Najjar, right, after a briefing at his office in South Surra, Kuwait, on September 2, 2010. Gustavo Ferrari / The National

An investigation revealed the price of the jets was improperly inflated.

The country's Anti-Corruption Authority said on Monday a major general and colonel in the army would face charges over their alleged misuse of public funds.

Mr Al Turaiji, who spoke against the request for a vote of no confidence, said Sheikh Hamad issued a decision in line with a fatwa, or religious edict, that allowed for women to serve in the military.

“Legitimacy regarding women’s entry into the military was followed through and the minister answered 80 percent of parliamentary questions, which confirms his co-operation with parliamentarians,” Mr Al Turaiji said.

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Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

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Champions League quarter-final, first leg

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)

Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports

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Updated: January 26, 2022, 9:25 AM`