After swearing the constitutional oath in the National Assembly today, Sheikh Meshal criticised the authorities’ decision to appoint people to positions “that are not consistent with the simplest rules of justice and fairness”.

He also objected to the pardoning of several convicts and opposition figures, and the damaging of the Kuwaiti identity.

The emir said it was “necessary to review our current reality, especially in terms of security, the economy, and living conditions”.

He stressed “the importance of follow-up, responsible oversight, and objective accountability within the framework of the constitution and the law for negligence, dereliction, and tampering with the interests of citizens.”

Kuwait will maintain its Gulf, regional, and international commitments, Sheikh Meshal said.

Sheikh Meshal, 83, was Kuwait’s day-to-day ruler during much of his half-brother Sheikh Nawaf’s reign due to his ill health. His predecessor died on Saturday.