Saudi King Decrees Half Brother Moqren to be Future Monarch
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Saudi Arabia's 90-year-old King Abdullah on Thursday appointed his half-brother Moqren, 69, as the next heir to the throne of the world's largest exporter of crude oil.`
The decision, announced in a royal decree, comes as a source close to the circle of power told Agence France Presse that current Crown Prince Salman, 79, was sick and "may decide not to claim the throne" because of his ill health.
The decree did not mention Prince Salman, who is also defense minister of the strategic Gulf state.
Under the rules of succession in Saudi Arabia, power passes from brother to brother under the right of primogeniture among the sons of Abdul Aziz bin Saud, the kingdom's founder.
The king made public his decision on the eve of a visit by U.S. President Barack Obama, who is expected in Riyadh late on Friday afternoon.
Under Thursday's decree, Prince Moqren, currently second deputy prime minister, is named the next crown prince.
Prince Moqren will be proclaimed sovereign "if the posts of crown prince and king become vacant," according to the decision taken by "more than three-quarters" of the 34-member Board of Succession, the princes of the royal family.
The decision is irrevocable, the decree said, stipulating that "nobody can change this decision" which takes effect from Thursday.
"King Abdullah wants to assure a smooth succession by this internal reorganization of power" within the family, another source told AFP, adding that the decision had been "taken in agreement with Crown Prince Salman".
"It was passed by 27 of the 34 members. Others had reservations or abstained in the vote," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity and without elaborating.
The Board of Succession is supposed to designate the future heir.
But a source close to royal circles in Riyadh told AFP King Abdullah had met the board and asked it to approve his decision to appoint Moqren crown prince "in case of the accession to the throne of Crown Prince Salman, or his absence."
The same source said the king also informed the board of his intention to appoint his son Mitab as second deputy premier.
In addition to that post, Moqren also headed the kingdom's intelligence services until July 2012.
"About two-thirds of the board members approved" the appointment of Mitab, according to the same source.
He added that Prince Salman asked that support be given to his son, Prince Mohammed, to be appointed to the defense portfolio.
King Abdullah established the board in 2006 to institutionalize the process of transition, which would normally exercise its prerogatives after the monarch's death.
Analysts believe that the ageing Al-Saud dynasty should consider moving to the next generation within the ruling family for the succession.
But they also say that doing so could run the risk of igniting rivalries among the sons of dead kings or those of the present sovereign.
27 March 2014, 18:30
109
LOL, democracy at work people. And this is the country that's calling for democracy in Syria, LOL.
27 March 2014, 19:50
107
yaaay, democracy at work, saudi style. the m14 muppets love it, "freedom" is only good when it's about butchering syrians...
27 March 2014, 20:20
78
ironic indeed! mowaten criticizes the Saudi monarchy but would give his life for the syrian regime that made the presidency a family owned business. Hypocrite
27 March 2014, 19:43
97
Karim, you're an idiot. KSA is a kingdom and both you and I despise such regimes. They are not a democracy and don't claim to be.
Syria and Iran on the other hand are democracies (in theory). But they are ruled by dictators.
28 March 2014, 12:06
21
@FT : you are perfectly describing HEZBOLLAH !
You really are an idiot !
27 March 2014, 18:33
108
Such transparency is the model of western democracy... no wonder KSA is the favourite, most friendly model arab country in the world... the Saud family business has a strong future much like the Murdoch family.
27 March 2014, 18:38
87
Khomeynist haters can hate all they want, those are the people helping our economy, our army, and employing 120k+ lebanese of all sects, unlike khamenei's Iran helping and arming only HizbIran...
God bless the King...
27 March 2014, 18:47
116
You salafis talk about democracy, just like Saudia wanted democracy for Syria? Hmm how about their own country, women can't even drive. Is that freedom?
28 March 2014, 00:33
34
cedre ya salafi. Wasen't that what the Saudis wanted for Syria? Freedom and democracy and all that? Why do they not implement it, in their own excuse of a country?
28 March 2014, 01:38
52
mastic, u're even more ignorant than i thought.
But where did u learn english if u're so stupid ?
28 March 2014, 02:51
34
I am always happy when a salafi says, I am ignorant. Then i always know i'm on the right track, thanks for reminding me.
27 March 2014, 19:46
75
southern prefer khomeynist ideology
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=98d_1268716355
28 March 2014, 12:05
00
Check your history. It was the Shiites who housed the Jews when Zionism came to the region. They fled Palestine into the south and were taken in by Shiites to protect them from the Sunnis. You can't change your past.
27 March 2014, 18:46
01
the Lebanese diaspora in the world
500k in the gulf and about 5 million in the west
and if people do their math they will know from where Lebanon survived for centuries
arab spring in the gulf countries now
27 March 2014, 19:57
53
Just comparing apples to apples my friend. Both are backward. One is not better than the other just because a woman can drive. My advice if that is too much in your mouth is to chew slowly. Eventually you will taste it and see things for what they are.
27 March 2014, 19:59
32
That's right fd. KSA who have been one of the biggest players in Lebanon since the civil war and use Lebanon to spend their petro dollars on vices that are unavailable in their country woke up one day and said screw it. We don't need a bordello. But we sure can use another madrasa.
27 March 2014, 21:11
52
In a lot of ways I agree John. Saudi was never high in my list of favorite countries. And if they don't change with the times, time will change them. Compared to the rest of the gcc unemployment is rampant and poverty and illiteracy is 10 fold what it is in the rest of the gulf. It is unfortunate that the power because of the oil is vested upon KSA and not a more progressive country like the uae.
27 March 2014, 21:13
73
But what you are applying to KSA applies equally upon Iran. Very backward. High unemployment. Mass poverty. And an increasing illiterate population.
28 March 2014, 09:50
40
FT it might be because of sanctions. But didn't they say they are self reliant? These sanctions were agreed to by ALL powers. So don't you think they have a point? Hey they just don't want to trade with Iran. Who are you to force them?
Iran is a regional power at best. A world power??? Mmmmmm no.
28 March 2014, 17:34
00
John if you really saud you can denounce the president in Iran without penalty you need to check your facts. How about the supreme leader? Can you murmur his name without being crucified? There is No difference between KSA and Iran in the way the country is ruled. Both have a king. And both are not really supported by its people.
28 March 2014, 01:39
62
what do u care ? as long as they give money to ur government...
Dont like them ? refuse the money and ask khamenei to help u...
28 March 2014, 09:47
00
Well considering KSA does not have a parliament it would be hard to have them represented. Besides. There are no Christian Saudis or Jewish Saudis. And expats cannot be represented in parliament or else if KSA did have a parliament it would be full of Iranians!!!!
Iran bought Pakistani nuclear tech.
Last I checked saudi women have access to the Internet. There is no male organ identifier on computers in KSA.
Iran and KSA apply sharia law. So women are treated according to that.
Iran has an ancient culture that has ZERO to do with current Iranian culture. And the vast majority of Iranians hate the theocracy they live in.
KSA is the cradle of Islam. That's history enough to be proud of.
Please show me a link where KSA said they are going to demolish the birthplace of Mohamed???
28 March 2014, 09:54
01
Ahhh, Iran. a country that I can call home..........beautiful palm trees, rolling desert, an oasis here and there, sunburnt during the day, freezing cold at nights, harems in every tent, camel milk in the morning, camel meat in the evenings, church bells ringing, bikini clad women on sandy desert beaches, ice cold beer in one hand, bacon & eggs in the other, now that's what I call a life and make it my perfect home. But the Basij police just woke me up from my dreams with a sword on my neck just because I dreamt it! Did you get it? Iran stay out of our way, Lebanon is & will always be Waliy al faqih free, as for your faqih, well as the old saying goes, anything that doesn't have the support of the people doesn't last.
28 March 2014, 09:54
00
Not that I do not agree with your KSA dream. I 100% do. Just adding another dream.
28 March 2014, 11:11
01
i get it!!! and i am with you in everything you said.. but when you speak of a dream in KSA, you can extend the same to Iran...
i only care about Lebanon, and am the first to tell you to give the LAF all the authority, and be the only weapons in Lebanon...
i too do not want Saudi culture in Lebanon as much as i do not want Iranian culture in Lebanon.
i want to down a bottle of arak for lunch and a bottle of whisky for dinner, and have pork for breakfast lunch and dinner...
i want to swim and go enjoy the scenes of our beautiful ladies in their skimpy bikinis..
but when you dream of one nightmare, dream of the other as well..
when you speak of the LAF and that you served (which i am not denying) and your children serve, then you should see that HA is enemy number 1..(locally speaking)
you should support the principles of an unarmed militia, be it from m14 or m8.. and ask the LAF to crack the heads of someone who carries a slingshot..
28 March 2014, 11:12
00
that is when we are Lebanon w bass... LAF w bass... TRUE Lebanese people w bass... not when we justify the arms of one and curse the weapons of another... curse them all.. and be a true Lebanese... curse all the foreign backers of BOTH.. and then you are a true Lebanese.
28 March 2014, 12:00
00
Now I know you are a total idiot. I am talking about the country. And your level of discussion and retorting to low level tactics shows me that your iq is on par to the size of my shoe.
28 March 2014, 12:08
10
I beg to differ wolf. Someone who supports the principles of one army. The LAF. Is as much a true Lebanese as those fighting in it. I have plenty of family members in the LAF. And not a single one of us in any armed militia. That makes us true Lebanese. Sometimes the pen is mightier than the sword. And just because I believe in the one and only LAF. And no their militia. But am not part of the LAF does not make me less lebanese. I do not curse unless cursed at. And consider myself more lebanese than any politician we have. And consider anyone who supports an armed militia, from whichever side, a fake one. Regardless if he/she is or was in the LAF.
28 March 2014, 16:52
30
To M8 sheep who usurp the term "democracy" when they don't understand the first thing about it : what do you call criminal Bashar el Assad succeeding his criminal father Hafez ? How is this any different from Saudi Monarchy righfully appointing successors to the throne ? Saudi never claimed to be a democracy and Saudis never revolted agains their regime although I see a million reasons for a revolution to happen there !
28 March 2014, 17:38
00
I believe we are. And I believe more Lebanese should be. No militias anymore. No fake resistance let us embrace our LAF. And if anyone dares tread on it then we are all LAF. And we are all the resistance.
