Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah
Encyclopedia
Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah is a Kuwait
i politician who was the Prime Minister of Kuwait from 7 February 2006 until his resignation on 29 November 2011. He is the nephew of the current Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
.
Sheikh Nasser resigned on 4 March 2007 in a move observers believe was aimed at avoiding a no-confidence motion against Health Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah. Ten MPs presented the motion in February over suspected financial and administrative breaches at the ministry. The vote was due to have taken place in parliament on March 5 and Sheikh Ahmad would have had to step down if legislators had voted against him. He was reappointed as Prime Minister on 6 March.
On November 16, 2008, Islamist MPs Waleed AlـTabtabaie, Mohammed AlـMutair, and Mohammed Hayef AlـMutairi filed a request to grill Prime Minister Nasser for allowing prominent Iranian Shiite cleric Mohammad Baqir al-Fali
to enter Kuwait despite a legal ban. On November 25, the cabinet resigned, and on December 17 the Emir reappointed Nasser as Prime Minister of the new cabinet. And with the forming of the new cabinet, Nasser was no longer required to face the grilling which had been filed with the old cabinet.
His cabinet resigned again on 1 April 2011 due to a stand-off with parliament and was reappointed on 6 April. In the Arab Spring
, protests again led to his resignation; Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah
was appointed in his stead on 30 November 2011.
In 1964, HH Sheikh Nasser graduated from the University of Geneva
(Switzerland
) with a BA degree in Political Science and Economics. Before becoming Prime Minister, HH Sheikh Nasser had served as ambassador to Iran
and Afghanistan
, the minister of information, minister of social affairs and labour, minister of state for foreign affairs and minister of the Emiri Diwan. Married with two sons, he is fluent in Arabic, English, French and Persian.
On May 9, after the election of the new Parliament, the Emir asked Sheikh Nasser to form the Kuwaiti Government for the sixth consecutive time. The new Government maintained supremacy of the Al-Ahmed Branch of the Al-Sabah Family.
In December 2009, opposition members of parliament filed a motion of "non-cooperation" against Sheikh Nasser over corruption charges. Allegations were that his office misappropriated millions of dollars in the run up to the 2008 elections, and a $700,000 cheque issued to an MP in 2008.
In January 2011, he survived a vote of no-confidence in parliament with a vote of 25–25 (26 were needed to bring down the Government).
In April 2011, his cabinet resigned due to a stand-off with parliament; he was reappointed on 6 April 2011 to form a new government but he was resigned again with his cabinet. This was confirmed by the Emir and he was appointed Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah
as next prime minister.
told the pan-Arab Arabiya television in an interview that he had "question marks" about the Prime Minister's decisions. A transcript of the interview was published in Alrai daily, which included Al-Kharafi's comment that too many reshuffles necessitate "a review and an evaluation of what measures should be taken." Al-Kharafi said the reshuffle should not have been put off for the whole summer and that it indicated a "policy of patching" up problems, rather than solving them.
In response, Prime Minister Nasser issued a statement about Al-Kharafi to the state-owned Kuwait News Agency, which was splashed on the front pages of daily newspapers. In the statement, PM Nasser said that Al-Kharafi was overstepping in bounds in trying to influence cabinet selections: "I have no doubt that .... the speaker realizes that his attempts to interfere in forming the Cabinet and affecting its decisions is overstretching his constitutional mandate."
The back-and-forth marked the first such public tensions between a speaker and a Prime Minister.
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
i politician who was the Prime Minister of Kuwait from 7 February 2006 until his resignation on 29 November 2011. He is the nephew of the current Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Sheikh Sabah IV Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is the Emir of Kuwait. Sheikh Sabah was sworn in on January 29, 2006 after confirmation by the National Assembly of Kuwait. He is the fourth son of Emir Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Sheikh Sabah is the head of the ruling Al-Sabah family...
.
Sheikh Nasser resigned on 4 March 2007 in a move observers believe was aimed at avoiding a no-confidence motion against Health Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah. Ten MPs presented the motion in February over suspected financial and administrative breaches at the ministry. The vote was due to have taken place in parliament on March 5 and Sheikh Ahmad would have had to step down if legislators had voted against him. He was reappointed as Prime Minister on 6 March.
On November 16, 2008, Islamist MPs Waleed AlـTabtabaie, Mohammed AlـMutair, and Mohammed Hayef AlـMutairi filed a request to grill Prime Minister Nasser for allowing prominent Iranian Shiite cleric Mohammad Baqir al-Fali
Mohammad Baqir al-Fali
Sayed Mohammad Baqir Ahmad Abdul Aziz al-Fali is an Iranian Shia cleric and preacher from Iraqi origins. He is the youngest son of the late Ayatollah Ahmad al-Fali. Many of his programs and lectures broadcasted on the Shia Channels such as; Al-Anwar, Al-Zahraa, Al-Mahdi and Imam Hussein, besides...
to enter Kuwait despite a legal ban. On November 25, the cabinet resigned, and on December 17 the Emir reappointed Nasser as Prime Minister of the new cabinet. And with the forming of the new cabinet, Nasser was no longer required to face the grilling which had been filed with the old cabinet.
His cabinet resigned again on 1 April 2011 due to a stand-off with parliament and was reappointed on 6 April. In the Arab Spring
Arab Spring
The Arab Spring , otherwise known as the Arab Awakening, is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world that began on Saturday, 18 December 2010...
, protests again led to his resignation; Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah
Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah
Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah is a Kuwaiti politician who currently serves as Prime Minister of Kuwait since 30 November 2011. He previously was First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence....
was appointed in his stead on 30 November 2011.
In 1964, HH Sheikh Nasser graduated from the University of Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
(Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
) with a BA degree in Political Science and Economics. Before becoming Prime Minister, HH Sheikh Nasser had served as ambassador to Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, the minister of information, minister of social affairs and labour, minister of state for foreign affairs and minister of the Emiri Diwan. Married with two sons, he is fluent in Arabic, English, French and Persian.
Political career
In March 2009, the Kuwaiti Government submitted its resignation to the Emir of Kuwait after Islamist MPs requested a hearing of the P.M.On May 9, after the election of the new Parliament, the Emir asked Sheikh Nasser to form the Kuwaiti Government for the sixth consecutive time. The new Government maintained supremacy of the Al-Ahmed Branch of the Al-Sabah Family.
In December 2009, opposition members of parliament filed a motion of "non-cooperation" against Sheikh Nasser over corruption charges. Allegations were that his office misappropriated millions of dollars in the run up to the 2008 elections, and a $700,000 cheque issued to an MP in 2008.
In January 2011, he survived a vote of no-confidence in parliament with a vote of 25–25 (26 were needed to bring down the Government).
In April 2011, his cabinet resigned due to a stand-off with parliament; he was reappointed on 6 April 2011 to form a new government but he was resigned again with his cabinet. This was confirmed by the Emir and he was appointed Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah
Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah
Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah is a Kuwaiti politician who currently serves as Prime Minister of Kuwait since 30 November 2011. He previously was First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence....
as next prime minister.
Dispute with Speaker Al-Kharafi
On November 3, 2007, Parliamentary Speaker Jassem Al-KharafiJassem Al-Kharafi
Jassem Al-Kharafi, , born in 1940, has been speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly since 1999. Al-Kharafi studied Business Administration at the Manchester Trade Faculty in Kuwait and was director of M. A. Kharafi & Sons before being elected to the National Assembly in 1975. He affiliates with...
told the pan-Arab Arabiya television in an interview that he had "question marks" about the Prime Minister's decisions. A transcript of the interview was published in Alrai daily, which included Al-Kharafi's comment that too many reshuffles necessitate "a review and an evaluation of what measures should be taken." Al-Kharafi said the reshuffle should not have been put off for the whole summer and that it indicated a "policy of patching" up problems, rather than solving them.
In response, Prime Minister Nasser issued a statement about Al-Kharafi to the state-owned Kuwait News Agency, which was splashed on the front pages of daily newspapers. In the statement, PM Nasser said that Al-Kharafi was overstepping in bounds in trying to influence cabinet selections: "I have no doubt that .... the speaker realizes that his attempts to interfere in forming the Cabinet and affecting its decisions is overstretching his constitutional mandate."
The back-and-forth marked the first such public tensions between a speaker and a Prime Minister.
Awards & Honors
 Iran |
November 1968 | The Persian Imperial Decoration of the First Degree from the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979... . |
 Early Modern France |
1984 | Decoration of the First Rank of Knight from the Mayor of Paris Jacques Chirac Jacques Chirac Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the... . |
 Argentina |
15 August 1993 | The First Degree National Decoration of the Republic of Argentina, from President Carlos Menem Carlos Menem Carlos Saúl Menem is an Argentine politician who was President of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. He is currently an Argentine National Senator for La Rioja Province.-Early life:... of Argentina. |
 Senegal |
7 October 1994 | The Highest Decoration of Knight of the Republic of Senegal from the Senegalese President Abdou Diouf Abdou Diouf Abdou Diouf was the second President of Senegal, serving from 1981 to 2000. Diouf is notable both for coming to power by peaceful succession, and leaving willingly after losing the 2000 presidential election to Abdoulaye Wade... . |
 Organization of the Islamic Conference |
3 November 1996 | Appreciation Certificate of the Rank of Excellence from the Organization of Islamic Conference. |
 Finland |
16 September 1997 | The Most Distinguished Decoration of the Rank of Lion of Finland Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... by President Marti Ahtisaari of Finland. |
 Italy |
15 November 2005 | ‘The Giglio’ Symbol, being the highest decoration of the city of Florence Florence Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area.... , presented by the Mayor of Florence - Italy, on the occasion of the Fifteenth Anniversary celebrations of the foundation of the Italia-Kuwait National Association. |
| Early Modern France |
12 September 2006 | Distinguished Decoration of France's 'Legion of Honour' with Grand Officer Class, conferred by H.E. Jacques Chirac Jacques Chirac Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the... , presented by H.E Dominique de Villepin Dominique de Villepin Dominique Marie François René Galouzeau de Villepin is a French politician who served as the Prime Minister of France from 31 May 2005 to 17 May 2007.... , French Prime Minister, at the Hôtel Matignon Hôtel Matignon The Hôtel Matignon is the official residence of the Prime Minister of France. It is located in the VIIe arrondissement of Paris, France.The address of Hotel Matignon is 57 rue de Varenne, Paris, France.-History:... . |
 Qatar |
28 January 2007 | The First Degree National Decoration "Qaladat Al-Istihaqaq" bestowed by H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar. |
 United Arab Emirates |
29 January 2007 | The First Degree National Decoration "Al-Ittihad" bestowed by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. |
| Senegal |
9 April 2007 | Received decoration of "Grande Croix de l'Ordre National du Mérite" of the Republic of Senegal from the Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade Abdoulaye Wade Abdoulaye Wade is the third and current President of Senegal, in office since 2000. He is also the Secretary-General of the Senegalese Democratic Party and has led the party since it was founded in 1974... . |
 Indonesia |
30 May 2007 | The Highest Indonesian Order of Merit received from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono AC , is an Indonesian politician and retired Army general officer who has been President of Indonesia since 2004.... of Indonesia. |
 Albania |
13 December 2007 | Received a copy of the key of the city of Tirana Tirana Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over... on the occasion of his state visit to Albania Albania Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea... . |
 Spain |
27 May 2008 | Sash of Civil Merits from His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain. |
| Albania |
12 October 2011 | Honorary Citizen of Tirana Tirana Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over... , capital of Albania Albania Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea... . |