The cabinet resigned in an apparent bid to thwart a no-confidence motion against the country’s health minister presented by 10 lawmakers in February.

KUNA published a decree by Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, asking Sheikh Nasser, his nephew, to nominate members for the new cabinet of the OPEC oil exporter.

Traditionally cabinet changes do not have a direct impact on Kuwait’s oil policy, drawn by a supreme council that includes oil industry officials in addition to government officials.

The resignation came one day before parliament was scheduled to meet to vote on the no-confidence motion.

The 10 MPs, mostly Islamists, presented the motion against Sheikh Ahmad al-Abdullah al-Sabah, who is also acting information minister, over suspected financial and administrative breaches at the health ministry.

Sheikh Ahmad would have had to be replaced if legislators had voted against him.
U.S.-allied Kuwait holds about a tenth of the world’s oil reserves.