JEDDAH, 9 October 2007 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday issued a royal decree detailing regulations to implement a Succession Law that was announced last year to ensure a smooth transfer of power in the country.

The executive bylaw of the Succession Law outlines who can become a member of the Allegiance Commission, the body entrusted with the task of selecting future kings and crown princes.

The new regulations also stipulate what should be done if a member dies and how a crown prince should be chosen. According to the law, the commission should be composed of the sons of King Abdul Aziz, the founder of the Kingdom.

If the sons are deceased, incapacitated or not interested, then the membership goes to one of their sons. “The member should be aged not less than 22 and should be a man of good reputation,” said the new bylaw, carried by the Saudi Press Agency. The membership period is fixed at four years and can only be renewed with the agreement of the king and the member’s brothers.

Upon the death of the king, the Allegiance Commission immediately holds a meeting to name the crown prince as king, according to the new regulations. Within 10 days, the king has to send a letter to the commission’s chairman with the name of the person he has chosen as his crown prince or to ask the commission to nominate the crown prince. The commission should do so within 10 days after receiving the king’s letter. “The king will authorize the sons of King Abdul Aziz or his grandsons to nominate three sons of the deceased or incapacitated... in order for the king to select one of them as the commission’s member. He can also ask King Abdul Aziz’s sons to select one of the three nominees,” the law said.

If a member of the commission were found violating rules and responsibilities, a three-member panel would investigate his case and report to the commission. “If two-thirds of the members demand abrogation of the violator’s membership the matter will be passed to the king to take an appropriate decision,” it added.

Referring to the medical committee to be appointed to report about the health condition of a king or crown prince or a commission member, the new statute said its meetings would be held secretly. “The medical report should be presented to the chairman of the Allegiance Commission in a sealed envelope and should not be seen except during the commission’s meeting,” the bylaw said.

The commission’s secretary-general will have the rank of a minister and will be responsible in handling the commission’s financial and administrative affairs. Any change in the executive statute requires the king’s approval, SPA said.

The Succession Law was decreed in October 2006. The law, which will not be applied to the present king and crown prince, aims at streamlining the succession process. The law, which has 25 articles, offers a new mechanism for declaring the reigning monarch or heir to the throne unfit to exercise their powers, temporarily or permanently. The Allegiance Commission will comprise the sons and grandsons of King Abdul Aziz and will be chaired by the oldest son of King Abdul Aziz. The commission was formed by Article 5 of the Basic Law of Governance.

Under the law, the commission will have a say in the appointment of a crown prince proposed by the king. If the commission rejects the nominated crown prince, it would vote to choose between the king’s candidate and its own for the title. The appointment of the new crown prince must be done within 30 days of the accession of a new king.

The commission will set up a transitory ruling council, which would take over the running of state affairs for a maximum period of one week if neither the king nor the crown prince were fit to rule the country.

The transitory ruling council will not have the power to dissolve or reshuffle the government or the Shoura Council or amend the Basic Law of Governance, the Council of Ministers Law, the National Security Council Law or any other laws that are linked to the rule. The council should also protect the state’s unity as well as its internal and external interests.

King Abdullah appointed Khaled ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Tuwaijeri secretary-general of the commission.

King Abdullah also set up a medical committee made up of five members, three of them doctors, to pronounce on the ability of the king or crown prince to continue his duties.