Kuwaiti government quits to break logjam; dissidents pardoned

Kuwait's government on Monday submitted its resignation for the second time this year to the ruling emir, a move which along with an amnesty pardoning political dissidents could help end a standoff with opposition lawmakers that has hindered fiscal reform.

The state-run KUNA news agency said Kuwait's Ruler Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah received the government's resignation notice. However, the report did not say whether Sheikh Nawaf would accept the resignation, tendered by the country's Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah.

The government previously resigned in January. On Sunday, Sheikh Nawaf granted an amnesty to opposition political members in part to resolve the ongoing deadlock in the country's government.

Several opposition MPs have insisted on questioning the premier on various issues, including handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and corruption, but a motion passed in March had given him immunity from questioning until the end of 2022.

The feud has paralysed legislative work, hindered efforts to boost state finances — hit hard last year by low oil prices and the pandemic — and enact measures including a debt law needed to tap global markets.

Political deadlock has for decades led to government reshuffles and dissolutions of parliament, hampering investment and reform.

The government started a dialogue with MPs to break the impasse, with the opposition demanding an amnesty pardoning dissidents and to be able to question Sheikh Sabah, who has been premier since late 2019.

Parliament Speaker Marzouq al-Ghanim on Monday announced that two emiri decrees had been issued for the amnesty, after cabinet approved the drafts on Sunday, saying this presented "a new page" for Kuwait to focus on "important pending matters."

Dissidents in self-imposed exile include former lawmakers who took part in a 2011 storming of parliament over alleged government graft and mismanagement, and other Kuwaitis who criticised the emir.