Kuwait’s Amir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah called yesterday for national unity to meet challenges facing the Gulf state, in a speech to lawmakers ahead of elections on Dec 5.
“National unity has proven to be our strongest weapon in facing challenges, dangers and crises,” said the Amir, who assumed power last month on the death of the previous ruler.
The outspoken assembly, the Gulf’s oldest legislature, can block bills and question ministers.
Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah, also addressing the opening of a supplementary legislative session, called for greater efforts to “diversify revenue sources and rationalise spending and consumption...without detriment to citizens” in the cradle-to-grave welfare state.
He said the government was seeking more sustainable tools to finance the budget, in which public sector salaries and subsidies accounted for 71% of spending for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
The nearly $140bn economy is facing a yawning deficit of $46bn this year.
A priority will be overcoming legislative gridlock on a bill that would allow Kuwait to tap international debt markets. Lawmakers opposed to the debt law have called for clarity on government plans to reduce reliance on oil exports, which accounted for 89% of revenues in the last fiscal year.
The Amir is expected to maintain oil and investment policy and a balanced foreign policy that strove for Arab unity. In his speech, the premier said Kuwait would continue mediation efforts to end a Gulf dispute that has seen Saudi Arabia and its allies boycott Qatar since mid-2017.
He reiterated his country’s support for Palestinians’ rights.
Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah gestures in greeting upon arrival to attend the opening of the fifth regular session at the country’s National Assembly (parliament) in Kuwait City, yesterday.
