The Next Council

It is only natural that we call for a cabinet reshuffle to fill vacant government positions. The principle is that administration requires continuity, while acting appointments are the exception, regardless of the competence of those holding the portfolios or managing multiple sectors.

There are ministries without ministers, managed by acting appointees. There should be a review to evaluate performance based on professional competence rather than personal considerations. We believe the experience so far has clarified the extent of progress here and setbacks there, as well as the level of commitment to deadlines for completion in some areas and delays in others.

I said this before, and I reiterate it today: As a citizen, what I hope for is a government composed of statesmen of the highest caliber. Kuwait is full of such talents.

What I also hope for is that we do not focus solely on the profiles of candidates for government positions based only on their relevance to the specific ministry. For example, one of the most competent individuals to head the Ministry of Public Works was Hamoud Al-Nassif, may God have mercy on him, who did not hold an engineering degree. Similarly, the best figures to lead the Ministry of Health in the post-invasion period were the late Anwar Al-Nouri and Dr. Adel Al-Subaih, may God prolong his life; neither came from a medical background.

A minister is a statesman who must act as a true leader, not merely as an employee bound by reporting lines and bureaucracy. He must be influential and inspiring to the team under his management and to all ministry staff. He is expected to be a role model in excellence, to develop institutional work, to keep pace with modernity, development, and the language of the times, to place serving the people and the state as a primary goal, and to view the position as a means rather than an end.

The ministerial post is political; the minister is a member of a system called the Cabinet, entrusted with managing the country. Today, and especially in the absence of a National Assembly, the government serves as both executive and legislative authority. This situation demands the highest level of vigilance in making correct choices, as the required tasks are exceptional and necessitate competent minds, administrative expertise, and individuals with national visions committed to work and achievement.

At the same time, an important fact must not be overlooked: the selection of deputy ministers and senior officials is no less important than the selection of ministers.

Deputy ministers are the head of administrative work within the ministry and must be specialists in their respective fields. They are the engine upon which the train of work relies—the very heart of momentum and progress. If the heart is weak and the engine worn out, no train moves, no work achieves progress, and no tangible results are seen.

In light of the circumstances Kuwait is currently experiencing at various levels, from external challenges to their internal repercussions, I also hope to see harmony and coordination in the work of the Cabinet. I do not wish to elaborate on this point, as it is not a secret; it is simply a matter of stating that even under normal conditions, the unity of all members of the executive branch does not yield complete results—this is the nature of politics and life. How much more so when the fear of external aggression still lingers... and our hearts remain anxious for the safety of vital facilities and infrastructure.

As part of these hopes, and let us be more candid: achievements are measured by their alignment with progress in basic development plans. Kuwait’s potential is great, and very great. Mega-projects have foundations, objectives, and high costs. Therefore, following up on one project here or inaugurating another there is not the ultimate aspiration, especially since figures and deadlines are either rigid or moving slowly. If this minister or that official believes that field photographs bring them closer to the people, they are mistaken. The people want to see the big picture of economic transformation, not small, incremental snapshots.

The best example of what we are saying is the repeated inspection visits by the Prime Minister to the airport, while Kuwait Airport recorded negative growth in passenger numbers and flights between 2023 and 2025, whereas all other Gulf airports recorded positive growth. Moreover, nearly all global airlines remain reluctant to operate flights to Kuwait. This example directly concerns us as citizens: what is the value of these visits if we are at the bottom of the rankings among airports in neighboring countries, and if global airlines are boycotting us?

One final word: it is time to seriously reconsider how and in what manner ministers are selected, and to change the prevailing pattern. It is unacceptable that a council whose current role is executive and legislative should remain hostage to the selection of one or two advisors who receive resumes of candidates, sit with them for only a few minutes, and keep them at the mercy of mere notification. Kuwait is full of capable state figures; we simply need to reach out to them, because those with competence, vision, and experience will not offer themselves to anyone. Rather, we must go to them.