Qatar’s Cabinet will be led by the new prime minister who was appointed by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Tuesday. The ruler has chosen his close associate Sheikh Khalid for an important state post in the Gulf State’s administration.
Currently, Qatar gears up to host the 2022 World Cup, so, the Gulf country hopes will boost its economy and international influence. At the same time, the Middle Eastern state urgently needs to ease theU.S.-Iran tensions and a lingering quarrel between Qatar and some Gulf Arab neighbours.
As Reuters reports, new PM Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdelaziz Al Thani will take on his role after Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani, who has served as the interior minister as well, sent the letter of resignation to the Qatari ruler. Correspondingly, the 51-year-old new PM will also take on the post of interior minister.
Indeed, key Qatari Cabinet positions such as foreign, energy, finance, defence and trade ministries remained unchanged. According to analysts, the change was not unexpected but the new generation taking the reins in its own way. Sheikh Tamim, who is in his late 30s, could become reformer similar to Crown Prince Mohammed in Saudi Arabia.
So far, the move does not seem to signal any major shift in Qatar’s administration. The good sign is the new head of government is very close to His Highness the emir, being part of the royal inner circle.
Qatar’s emir also appointed a new commander of the internal security forces, Abdulaziz bin Faisal bin Muhammad Al Thani. The Middle Eastern country has started the new phase of its development after its neighbours such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic and trade link in June 2017. Doha still denies their accusations of backing terrorism while accusing its neighbours of seeking to curtail Qatari sovereignty.
