KUWAIT CITY - Kuwait's prime minister survived on Wednesday a key challenge against him in the OPEC member state's parliament after his office was accused of financial irregularities.
Last week, opposition lawmakers introduced a non-cooperation motion after the house questioned Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, a nephew of the emir, in a closed meeting over the accusation made by an Islamist parliamentarian.
"The house confirms its confidence and cooperation with the prime minister," Speaker Jassem Al-Kharafi told parliament.
Sheikh Nasser won the vote in a landslide. Of the present members of the house 35 voted in support of the prime minister, 13 voted against him and one lawmaker abstained.
Had the motion passed, it could have prompted the ruler to reshuffle the cabinet or dissolve parliament for the second time this year.
Frequent government reshuffles, resignations and dissolutions of parliament have delayed economic reforms in the Gulf Arab state, the world's fourth-largest oil exporter.
In April the cabinet had to pass a $5 billion stimulus package as a by-law while parliament was dissolved.
The vote on Wednesday was the first such challenge brought against a prime minister in Kuwait, where previously this would have been taboo as the premier was traditionally also the heir apparent before the emir separated the two positions in 2006.
Sheikh Nasser's willingness to be questioned appeared to be aimed at preventing a rise in tensions between the cabinet and parliament, especially after his survival became near certain last week after the speaker said around 30 out of the house's 50 elected members signed a statement of support.
Appointed cabinet ministers become members of parliament although most of them are not elected MPs.
In March, the emir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, dissolved the legislature and called an election to prevent the prime minister from being questioned.
The parliament is also due to vote on Thursday on a no-confidence motion against Interior Minister Sheikh Jaber Khaled Al-Sabah, another member of the ruling family, after questioning him last week over issues including allegations he misled parliament about violations during elections.
Sheikh Jaber survived a no-confidence vote in July after being questioned over matters including alleged financial irregularities at his ministry.
Kuwait's parliament, the most outspoken in a region mostly governed by ruling families, has triggered numerous cabinet resignations or reshuffles.
