Kuwait’s Emir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah dissolved the country’s parliament on 7 December following the appointment of a new prime minister.

The dissolution on 6 December came at the recommendation of the newly appointed prime minister, Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah and was approved by the cabinet.

“Due to conditions that led to impediment in progress and threatened the country’s higher interests, it has become necessary to resort to the nation to elect their representatives in order to overcome current obstacles and achieve national interests,” the emir stated in his decree on 6 December.

According to Article 107 of the Kuwaiti constitution, elections for the new national assembly must be held within 60 days from the date of dissolution.

Former prime minister, Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammed al-Sabah, the emir’s nephew resigned on 28 November, following allegations of corruption against his government levelled by opposition members of parliament (MPs) and activists (MEED 4:12:11).

According to the local Arab Times newspaper, a number of MPs plan to contest the dissolution as Sheikh Jaber has yet to appoint a cabinet and his ministers have not been sworn in.

However, the dissolution may allow Kuwait’s Public Prosecution to question and arrest former MPs accused of corruption or were involved in breaking into the National Assembly building. As MPs they were previously immune.